The Bangor City Historic Preservation Commission voted 4–0 on Oct. 9 to grant a certificate of appropriateness allowing the owner of 198 Broadway to replace a deteriorated slate roof with a substitute roofing material, finding the cost and lack of contractor availability created an undue hardship.

The decision followed a lengthy public hearing that included an objection from the applicant’s representative and a contested recusal motion that removed Commissioner Anne Marie Quinn from participation. Chair Edmund Tranesti opened the session and framed the procedural rules before the commission moved through evidence, argument and multiple votes on preservation standards and the commission’s exception criteria.

The certified record shows the commission weighed technical evidence, contractor estimates and an engineer’s inspection. Consultant Mike Pollan described the house as historically significant and detailed the building’s Italianate features; the applicant’s exhibit included an engineer’s report describing missing and displaced slate tiles, fastener failure and rot in underlying sheathing. The applicant and his representative also presented multiple contractor estimates and letters from the owner’s insurer saying the roof needed replacement within an insurer-imposed timeframe.

The applicant’s representative, Rick Violet, argued the recusal request was necessary because, he said, Commissioner Quinn had formed an opinion based on information outside the public record and on independent legal research. Violet told the commission he was “not sure where Miss Quinn gets that information,” and urged that the member be removed from the hearing.

Commission counsel John Hamer replied that "it is appropriate for an applicant to raise the issue of conflict" and led a short question-and-answer session with Quinn on whether she had obtained outside materials and photographs related to the property. Quinn acknowledged she had done research in local libraries and had driven by the property routinely; she also said she had seen shingles on the ground and had received photographs. Quinn defended her actions, asking, "How can I be punished for having gone out and done my own research?" and saying she believed researching the law and facts was part of her duty as a commissioner.

After commissioners debated the legal and ethical issues, Vice Chair Liam moved to recuse Commissioner Quinn from the 198 Broadway application on grounds of an appearance of bias because she had received and examined photographic evidence not included in the commission packet and had performed independent fact‑finding. The motion carried on a roll-call vote: Rebecca Krepkie — yes; Nathaniel King — yes; Liam — yes; Chair Edmund Tranesti — yes. Quinn did not participate further.

With Quinn recused, the commission continued the de novo hearing on the merits. Testimony and exhibits before the body included: an engineer’s inspection report describing fastener failure and delaminating slate; multiple contractor cost estimates for full roof replacement; and a citation to Preservation Brief 29 (U.S. Department of the Interior) describing slate weathering and repair thresholds. Commissioners noted that Preservation Brief 29 recommends repair where feasible but says roofs with more than about 20% damaged slates are often more economically repaired by full replacement.

Commissioners repeatedly acknowledged the tension between preservation goals and the practical constraints described in the record. Commissioner Nathaniel King said he regarded the record as demonstrating an undue financial hardship and limited contractor availability; another commissioner said the asphalt alternative would not "enhance the historic or architectural character" but could be approved under the ordinance’s exceptional‑circumstances provisions because of cost and contractor scarcity.

The commission moved through the written evaluation criteria in the historic preservation ordinance (chapter 1‑48). Commissioners found the proposed replacement would not match the original in composition, design, texture or finish and that it would alter distinctive features; those findings were recorded in separate motions. The body then addressed the ordinance’s exceptional‑circumstances test. After deliberation the commission voted that the property “cannot yield a reasonable economic return” and that the hardship was not caused by an ordinance amendment or by the owner after the property became regulated. On the basis of those findings the commission voted to issue the certificate of appropriateness.

Chair Edmund Tranesti announced the final motion: "Certificate of appropriateness is approved for this application." The roll-call vote on the final certificate was 4–0 in favor (Rebecca Krepkie — yes; Nathaniel King — yes; Liam — yes; Chair Edmund Tranesti — yes). Commissioner Anne Marie Quinn was recused and did not vote.

Public comment at the hearing included preservation advocates and nearby residents who urged consistent standards for the district and asked the commission to adopt affordable, feasible options for owners of historic properties. Architect Robert Reid — appearing by Zoom — urged commissioners to act "with the head and not with the heart," acknowledging both preservation value and economic realities. Cesar Cartier, a resident, called for flexibility to allow working families to maintain homes.

The commission’s approval was narrowly focused: it relied on evidence in the de novo record of widespread slate deterioration, an engineer’s recommendation, documented contractor scarcity and high replacement costs, and insurer timelines. The approval does not change the commission’s finding that slate is the historically preferred material; rather, the body applied the ordinance’s exception for undue or exceptional hardship in this specific case.

The commission adjourned after confirming a second October meeting to continue a scheduled code review.

Sources: meeting testimony and exhibits presented to the Bangor City Historic Preservation Commission on Oct. 9, 2025, and direct quotations from commission counsel John Hamer, Commissioner Anne Marie Quinn, the applicant’s representative Rick Violet, and Chair Edmund Tranesti. No outside investigation was performed for this report; the article reports only what was presented in the hearing record and public comments.