Commission discusses Civil War monument damage; asks to be kept informed of repairs

Commissioners reviewed a recent report that the town’s Civil War monument was struck and damaged by a vehicle approximately two weeks earlier and asked staff to be notified as repairs proceed.

Holly, town staff, described the visible damage to the small obelisk and surrounding protective elements. Commissioners noted previous repairs and restoration work; Diane Coombs said a past DPW administrator assisted a previous restoration and offered to help locate records: "While Jeff O'Lette was still alive and the head of the DPW... she was the administrator at the DPW, and she was responsible for getting that monument put back together," Coombs said, referencing institutional knowledge that could assist current repairs.

Commissioners emphasized that any replacement or reset of granite should be performed in a manner consistent with the monument’s historic character and asked to be advised on materials and contractors; the meeting record shows no formal motion on the matter. Staff said they had not yet been notified of repair plans but would follow up and inform the commission when repairs move forward.

No timetable, cost estimate or funding plan for repairs was provided at the meeting. Commissioners recommended that any replacement match existing materials and that veterans' or civic groups who maintain flagpoles and memorials be involved in repair decisions.