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Bangor City historic preservation hearing continued after quorum, conflict concerns; special session set for July 31
Summary
The Bangor City Historic Preservation Commission continued a certificate-of-appropriateness application to a special session on July 31 after determining it lacked the four votes required for such certificates and amid a potential conflict-of-interest question. Commissioners also approved May minutes and adopted findings for two properties.
Chair Edmond Shreskin, of the Bangor City Historic Preservation Commission, said the commission would not be able to issue a certificate of appropriateness at the July 10 meeting because only three regular members were present and the commission’s rules require four affirmative votes for such certificates.
The commission moved to continue the applicant’s matter to a special session on July 31, 2025, citing the quorum shortfall and a potential conflict of interest raised during the meeting. The motion to continue passed unanimously in a roll-call vote.
The decision came after Shreskin reviewed voting thresholds for the commission: “A design review application must receive 3 affirmative votes for approval, and a historic preservation application must receive 4 affirmative votes for a certificate of appropriateness to be issued,” he said. With three members physically present, the commission had a quorum for discussion but could not reach the four-vote threshold needed to issue a certificate.
John Hammer, the city attorney, recommended pausing rather than deciding without all members present: “If you think that this member is going to appear in the next 5 or 10 minutes, maybe take a short recess. If not, then the only alternative is to really reschedule,” Hammer said. Commissioners and the applicant agreed a special meeting would address the attendance and any conflict-of-interest ruling with the full body available.
A representative identified as the applicant’s speaker confirmed the applicant’s preference to continue and supported the July 31 date. The commission then made a formal motion to continue the hearing/application to the special session on July 31; the motion passed by unanimous roll call (four yes, zero no, zero abstain). Speakers recorded as voting yes included Mister Gilbert, Anne Marie (commission member), Chair Edmond Shreskin, and Commissioner King (joined by Zoom).
Commissioners also completed other procedural items before the continuance. The commission approved the May 8, 2025 meeting minutes and adopted the findings and decision for two properties discussed at the prior meeting, 218 Ohio Street and 2333 Cedar Street. Those procedural votes were recorded earlier in the meeting and passed.
After the continuance vote, the applicant asked that the city ensure mailed notices to neighbors be timely; staff said notices had been mailed and noted postal delays, adding that they would re-notice if necessary. The applicant and commissioners asked that staff attempt to get full attendance at the next session so the body could rule on any potential conflict of interest and reach the required vote threshold.
The commission opened and closed public comment for the single agenda item; no formal decision on the application was made at the July 10 meeting. The hearing will resume at the special session on July 31, 2025, pending public notification and resolution of any conflict-of-interest determinations.
