Stonington — A change in contractors working on the $32 million Masonicare at Mystic assisted living facility has resulted in an indefinite delay in construction, but a spokeswoman said Friday the nonprofit still is "fully committed" to the project. 

Masonicare spokeswoman Margaret M. Steeves, vice president of marketing and communications for the Wallingford-based organization, acknowledged that Klewin Construction of Mystic had walked off the jobsite on Clara Drive in a dispute over timely payments and changing orders. She said Masonicare is trying to line up another contractor under the expectation that the project will be completed sometime in 2016, rather than the initial target of late fall this year.

"Overall, we just hadn't met our own expectations regarding timing," Steeves said in a phone interview. "This is unfortunate. This is not how we'd like things to go."

Klewin filed suit last week against Senior Living By Masonicare LLC and the architectural firm Bessolo Design Group, claiming it is owed more than $458,000 for work done from Jan. 1 to March 12, when it walked off the 18-acre site.

The suit alleges that Bessolo and Masonicare had concocted "groundless reasons" to stall payments and that progress on construction was slowed by their failure to provide plans in a timely manner. A hearing over a mechanic's lien placed on the property by Klewin will be held April 6 in New London Superior Court.

Steeves called the dispute an "unfortunate setback" but promised that completing the project is still a priority for Masonicare. The many depositors who are waiting for units to open will be invited to a construction update April 14, she added, when more details are expected.

"We believe it will be worth the wait," Steeves said.

Steeves said Masonicare's chief operating officer, Jon-Paul Venoit, met Friday with First Selectman George Crouse to explain its side of the payment dispute and assure him that the project will be completed.

"There are always two sides to every story," she said.

Crouse said in a phone interview after the meeting that he did not want the town to get in the middle of a legal dispute. He met with Masonicare, he said, to go over town requirements for contract engineers to ensure whoever is chosen to complete the project is well qualified.

"The town can't take sides," Crouse said.

Masonicare took over development of the site off Coogan Boulevard after a previous management company, Morningside Management of Virginia, ran into financing difficulties.

Morningside originally had proposed a 245-unit project on part of the former Coogan Farm property. The Masonicare development calls for 179 units.

l.howard@theday.com

Twitter: @KingstonLeeHow