NEWPORT — A carpenters union that has been shut out of a $34-million renovation project at the Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel and Spa picketed yesterday at the Goat Island causeway, accusing the hotel of improperly removing mold.

Representatives of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, Local 1305, passed out leaflets stating that “mold is not being remediated in specification laid out in federal guidelines.” A photograph on the leaflet purports to show mold on a wall being refurbished.

“Makes you wonder what your room looks like under that wallpaper,” it read, adding, “Where a room with a view offers much more than an ocean view and a salty breeze.”

The hotel yesterday called the allegations untrue and questioned the union’s motives.

“The claim that the local carpenters union is making is false. And they know it is,” said general manager John Karchner. “This group has no involvement whatsoever in the renovation project. Apparently they are disappointed in that fact.”

“For our part it’s a $34-million renovation that’s going on — a complete transformation of this hotel. If any mold is ever found, we do remediate it and follow the federal guidelines.”

The Amstar Group, of Denver, purchased the nine-story hotel in September and announced plans for $23 million in improvements. That figure has since climbed to $34 million, said Karchner. He said that all guest rooms are undergoing a complete refurbishment as well as public areas inside and outside the hotel. The number of rooms is being reduced to 257 from 264 to create a presidential suite and a bridal suite on the top floor. Also, a 145-car, two-story garage will replace a parking lot with 45 spots.

The general contractor for the project is Stone Street Construction, of Providence. The work began in October and the major portions of it will be completed by March 31, Karchner said.

David Palmisciano, the union’s district business manager, said the picketing has taken place for several weeks and is intended to highlight the mold issue and the fact that contractor “does not have an agreement with us” to hire union carpenters.

“At this point they are looking for the cheapest way out to refurbish this hotel. They have proven this by taking the short cuts they have taken,” said Palmisciano. “We’re out there informing the public that we believe the hotel and the selection of a substandard contractor is doing substandard work in the hotels.”

He said that union members who observed the work “found a lot of drywall to be full of mold.” When the union sent the hotel a copy of its leaflet, the hotel said it was within its right to paint over the mold instead of removing the drywall, Palmisciano said. But the federal government recommends removal, he said.

rsalit@projo.com