Scaffolding was erected around the upper floor decking on the east side of Hotel LBI Monday as work on the balconies – a point of contention between the hotel owner and the borough of Ship Bottom – was set to begin.

“The balconies are being converted into Romeo and Juliet-style balconies,” Arthur Lakind, of Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein and Blader, a Lawrenceville law firm representing hotel owner Chris Vernon, said Monday afternoon.

A construction permit was issued by Ship Bottom Feb. 27 “for the cutback of the east-facing wall, roof, and balconies.”