Historic Preservation Commission approves roof restoration at Bangor Children’s Home; commissioner recuses

The Historic Preservation Commission on its May meeting granted a certificate of appropriateness for a major roof- and exterior-restoration project at 218 Ohio Street, the Bangor Children’s Home.

The commission’s vice chair, Liam Reardon, called the application and recited procedural background before the applicant presented the scope. Jed Nickerson, foreman for Blackstone Restoration, told the commission the project would include roof replacement and slate repair, replacement or repair of flashings and downspouts, installation of snow guards to protect the drive-through, restoration of the front porte-cochere (drive-through) and replacement of dormer sills and trim. “We’re looking to replace the flashing around the chimneys, replacing the slate,” Nickerson said during the presentation.

The commission’s architectural consultant, Mike Pollan, described the application as unusually complete and asked clarifying questions about the porte-cochere, the presence of a steel pan under later roofing, and the proposed materials. Pollan said the application team had documented evidence that original roofing likely included slate and confirmed proposed replacements would match in kind. Pollan told commissioners the application contained the details they needed: “It’s rare that we see an application of that much good information in it.”

Why it matters: The building dates to the 1860s and is a prominent local historic resource in Bangor’s historic district. The project replaces failing and mixed-metal flashings and deteriorated slate that the applicant said is causing staining and structural concerns from galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals.

What the commission decided: The commission first addressed a conflict-of-interest disclosure. Commissioner Matthew Whitecamp said, “I’m the minority owner of the company presenting to us.” The commission voted to recuse Whitecamp from discussion and voting on 218 Ohio Street; by majority vote Whitecamp was asked to leave the room during deliberations. With Whitecamp recused, the commission proceeded with the staff-recommended procedural motions and then made a series of findings tied to the city’s historic-preservation code (citing exhibits introduced into the record). The commission then voted to grant a certificate of appropriateness. The roll-call record in the meeting showed Peter Gable, Nathaniel King, Anne Marie Quinn and the chair/vice chair voting in favor; the certificate was approved with the necessary affirmative votes.

Key details from the application and discussion: - Scope: full slate replacement where necessary (east-side mansard and other elevations), reflash chimneys and hips, repair and replace dormers, sills, corbels and trim, repair/replace gutters and straps, replace downspouts, remove a hatch and reflash, install snow guards above the drive-through, and restore the porte-cochere with new slate and wood gutter where indicated. - Materials: Applicant proposed mahogany for replacement sills to match the existing profile; lead was identified as the planned flashing material for chimneys; downspouts and major flashings proposed to be copper where feasible to reduce galvanic corrosion. - Historic treatment: Consultant and applicant confirmed replacement in kind for patterned/slate shapes and that distinctive profiles (for example scalloped slate in dormer facings) will be matched. - Schedule: Applicant estimated roughly eight months of work.

Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners asked questions about materials and original roof composition and emphasized repair-in-kind standards. The formal action was a set of affirmative motions finding that the application satisfied the listed subsections of the Historic Preservation Code and issuing the certificate of appropriateness; the minutes show roll-call votes for each finding followed by a final approving vote.

What was not decided: No amendments to the proposal were made at the meeting and no conditions beyond those in the standard findings were added on the record.

Who spoke in the meeting on this item (first reference with role): Liam Reardon, vice chair, Historic Preservation Commission; Jed Nickerson, foreman, Blackstone Restoration (applicant representative); Mike Pollan, architectural consultant (commission consultant); Matthew Whitecamp, commissioner (recused; minority owner of the presenting company); Peter Gable, commissioner; Nathaniel King, commissioner; Anne Marie Quinn, commissioner.

Next steps: The applicant may proceed under the certificate of appropriateness. If work does not start within six months or is not completed within a year, the applicant must reapply as explained in the commission’s procedures.