Bangor Ethics Board hears testimony on Councilor Mallar's HPC conduct

The Bangor Board of Ethics convened to review Councilor Wayne Mallar's actions during an August 2025 Historic Preservation Commission meeting. After electing Shane Leonard as chair and receiving legal training, the board held a public hearing where multiple residents and Mallar himself provided conflicting accounts of his conduct during a meeting recess. The board voted to enter a brief executive session to seek legal advice on procedural matters before continuing its deliberations.

Key points

• Shane Leonard was unanimously elected as the chair of the Board of Ethics.
• The board voted 2-3 to proceed with the meeting without first obtaining a voluntary statement from former HPC member Ann Quinn.
• Edith Dyer testified that Mallar approached the HPC dais during a recess with city letterhead documents and claimed the case was procedurally incorrect.
• Rick Violette, a general contractor, clarified that strikethroughs in his previous statement were proposed ordinance amendments, not redactions.
• Sonya Mallar, Wayne Mallar's wife, stated that her husband did not identify himself as a councilor and was only asking when he could raise a procedural question.
• Councilor Wayne Mallar stated he did not represent himself as a councilor and was merely seeking clarification on procedure during a recess.
• The board voted to enter an executive session to consult with legal counsel regarding procedural issues.

Next steps

• The board will reconvene after the executive session to continue its discussion and vote on the matter.
• The board may seek a voluntary statement from former HPC member Ann Quinn, though the initial vote indicated a preference to proceed without it.

Read the full transcript