The Wiscasset Historic Preservation Commission had three requests to take up  April 4. A member’s recusal over “protocol” kept one from being heard.

The commission granted Anthony Rauseo’s request to have a snow guide after all for his previously approved metal roof. Because he was using period-appropriate metal gutters for his 1850 house on 22 Federal St., the contractors warned that snow would knock the gutters off almost immediately without snow guides, he told the commission. 

Ed Colburn, new owner of the former Le Garage at 15 Water St., appeared with his architectural advisor, Julian Jalbert of Knickerbocker Group, to discuss some of the issues the commission raised including  signage, screening of the HVAC systems, a possible roofed area in front of the historic doors, and stair finish for an egress window on the second floor as required by the Fire Marshal.  The certificate of appropriateness was tabled to April 21 to see the final designs for those.

A third item was a COA application Interim Town Manager John O’Connell signed 10 days earlier for a fence at the town’s Ancient Cemetery. Commissioner Pam Logan opposed entertaining it at the April meeting due to when it was turned in. Chair John Reinhardt had told the town it would have the chance to present its request April 4. When Reinhardt told Logan the commission would hear the COA, Logan recused herself. Since member Gordon Kontrath was not there, the commission lacked a quorum. The contractor, O’Connell, and Steve Christiansen, who had been ready to present the plans, rose at O’Connell’s suggestion and left the room. Several people who had come to hear about the fence project, including abutters, also left.

But the argument continued. Reinhardt said the town had provided its COA application in enough time, and Logan said that was not the case. Reinhardt eventually called a halt and insisted they continue with the rest of the agenda, including questions about email, defining terms such as demolition in the ordinance, and a discussion of the 200th anniversary celebration in 2020. However, the argument broke out again when, prior to adjournment, Reinhardt said he was not looking for a public fight but that he held that the COA was in on time. Logan said Reinhardt failed to respond to every email she sent to him on the issue, and she told him protocol had to be maintained, and that the COA should have been turned in by March 15.

Commission consultant Susan Blagden said she found the behavior of Reinhardt and Logan “deplorable.” Reinhardt said the commission could meet with the town April 21. Logan refused, saying the commission only considered COAs during the first meeting of the month. It is still unclear if the commission will discuss the project April 21.