Celebrations and reunions mark MBOIA 50th anniversary gala

On May 3, 1972, the Maine Building Officials and Inspector Association (MBOIA) was established. The association’s goals were:

• To establish, foster and maintain professional and social interests;
• To collect and disseminate all matters of interest to the membership and allied trades;
• To encourage uniformity and reciprocity in codes and inspection practiced among communities;
• To broaden and expand the acquaintance of inspectors throughout the state.

It was a small group then, maybe a few dozen scattered from small towns throughout the Pine Tree State, who came together for that mission. Now, there are 325 members, and more than 100 of them came together again in May 2022 to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of MBOIA. The event, part of its 13th annual code conference, featured the usual insightful educational programs, such as “Construction Fire Safety and Pre-Incident Planning” and “Gas Detection Requirements.” But the main event was the 50th-anniversary dinner, which featured presentations by six former MBOIA presidents, including several founding members.

Many credited MBOIA Secretary Barb Skelton, director of code enforcement for the city of South Portland, for organizing a great event and finding the past presidents and founding members. Back when the organization was part of the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, which merged with the Southern Building Code Congress International and the International Conference of Building Officials beginning in the late-1990s to form the International Code Council. “Barb hit it out of the park,” said Paul Demers, a former MBOIA president who serves as Maine’s State Building Official. “She did a fantastic job.”

Founding members and past presidents join the celebration

Demers said it was a treat to hear from the founders, especially Sam Hoffses, who came in from Florida for the event. “Here he is, in his early 80’s, and he comes back here to help us celebrate. That’s the kind of person he is. That’s the kind of organization this is. It was really a treat.”

Demers said he considers Hoffses a mentor and remembers when he had to call him some 25 years ago in Portland following the investigation of a historic wooden grandstand fire in Sanford. Demers wanted to get some advice, so he reached out to Hoffses. “He said, ‘I figured I’d be hearing from you. Get up here,’” Demers said chuckling. “I went up there, and he and his fire marshal agreed with the same three findings I had. That was rewarding. And a relief!”

Bill Nash, senior regional manager of government relations in New England for the International Code Council, said it was awe-inspiring to see how far MBOIA had come, along with the improved code changes they helped foster. Current MBOIA President Mark Stambach, code enforcement officer for the city of Lisbon Falls, agreed. “The feeling that I got from each founding member and past president, either during their presentation or in conversation, was a pride in their profession and in the organization that they created and nurtured,” said Stambach. “A common theme was the pleasure that they felt in seeing the continued growth and success of the association. It is important to not only know where you are going but from where you come. In watching and listening to some that I know, and others that I met for the first time, it demonstrated to me that the scope of the profession continues to change, but the commitment and dedication are steadfast.”

International Code Council Board Director Benjamin Breadmore, town manager and code enforcement officer of the town of Holden and MBOIA’s immediate past president, said the organization’s mission never has wavered. “The 50th anniversary of MBOIA was truly a special event for our organization and our membership. Having founding members present to show them the fruits of their hard labor in founding the organization that has helped the state of Maine grow in a positive and safer direction. The theme of safety from the past to the present and continuing it into the future is at the core of what we as code officials do every day. It was an honor to be present with those that paved the way for what I have come to call not only a career but a passion.”

Demers said it was good to hear from Marge Schmuckal, MBOIA past president in the late-1980s and a former code official in Portland. “Since then, we’ve seen a lot of women working in code enforcement in Maine,” he said. “To be in that position at that time, Marge really had to know her stuff.”

Demers said the younger folks in the crowd appreciated hearing from their founders and past presidents, including Larry Dunham, who spoke of the changes throughout the years in the codes and in the organization. “The room was quiet when the past presidents and founders spoke,” Demers said. “And what a treat it was for them as well. They were able to plant the seeds and see them grow into an orchard.”