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Skowhegan Zoning Board upholds 27 code violations at Shelters by Jesus, denies delay request
Summary
The Town of Skowhegan Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously upheld 27 code violations for Shelters by Jesus at 12 McClellan St., rejecting the organization's request for a supervised compliance plan to avoid overnight displacement; the board said it lacks authority to alter code findings.
Skowhegan’s Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously on Feb. 19 to uphold all 27 code violations issued for the shelter operating at 12 McClellan St., denying the appellant’s request for a supervised compliance plan that would have delayed enforcement and avoided overnight displacement of families.
Ken Allen, chairman of the board for Shelters by Jesus, acknowledged the violations and described a three-phase safety plan the organization has begun implementing. Allen said the shelter had completed deep cleaning, replaced expired fire extinguishers and installed code-compliant wiring, and that two Phase 3 items were finished: graspable handrails on ramps and stairs, and an emergency action plan with a detailed floor diagram. He told the board the remaining Phase 3 work — 20-minute fire-rated self-closing doors for sleeping rooms; interconnected, hardwired smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors with battery backups in every room; and a monitored fire alarm plus a supervised sprinkler system — could not be finished within the 30-day deadline because of engineering, construction and funding constraints. Allen asked the board to "allow a supervised compliance plan that avoids overnight displacement of families."
Chair Garrett Quinn reminded the panel that its authority is limited. "Our job is simply to hear the evidence and decide whether a cited violation is valid or not," he said, and the board cannot change fines, closure orders or interpret federal statutes. Allen also argued during testimony that a fire suppression system was not required based on prior discussions with State Fire Marshals and raised a Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act exemption; the board declined to accept those legal interpretations as a basis to overturn the violations.
Ryan Johnston, the Fire Chief who was present for the Dec. 23, 2025 inspection, told the board that "all 27 violations were accurate." Johnston said the building is inspected as a hotel or transient occupancy and therefore requires a fire suppression system; he added that determining whether retrofit is feasible would require an assessment by a sprinkler company, not the fire department. Aaron Crocker cited the International Building Code occupancy classes, noting that an R1 classification applies to transient boarding houses with more than 10 occupants and that the shelter’s occupancy and unchanged classification violated the code. Crocker confirmed he was present at the Dec. 23 inspection and that the listed violations were present on that date.
Board members discussed whether any compelling evidence existed to overturn the notice; none said there was. Colin Quinn moved to uphold all 27 violations as written in the Notice of Violation; Gene Rouse seconded. In a roll-call vote, Brad Corson, Colin Quinn, Gene Rouse and Chairman Garrett Quinn voted yes, and the motion passed unanimously.
The board’s decision upheld the code findings; the record notes that appeals of fines, closure orders or judicial interpretation of statutes must be directed to higher courts or other authorities. The public hearing closed at 11:30 a.m.; the board adjourned at 11:36 a.m.
