Historic commission presses town for answers after contested monument repair

NANTUCKET — Commissioners said Jan. 16 they remain unsatisfied with how the town handled repairs to a Civil War monument and urged staff to pursue clearer town oversight of insurance‑funded work on historic resources.

Preservation planner Holly Backus said the town’s insurance company chose the consultant who completed the repair and provided contact information by email with no apparent local selection process. "It was the town's insurance company who picked this consultant," Backus said, describing her communication with the insurer and that there had been no local vetting of the consultant before the work proceeded.

Commissioners said the finished repair raised concerns about materials and matching the monument’s original stone and appearance. Members asked staff to seek a clearer process so the town has a say in how insured repairs to town‑owned historic resources are carried out. Backus said she would contact the town manager to request clarity about the insurance process and to ask whether a different approach or vendor selection process is possible in future cases. The commission also discussed following up with the Nantucket Historical Association about potential assistance with restoration work.

There was no formal vote; staff will draft an outreach plan and gather photographic documentation and suggested contractors or scope language the commission can bring to town administration to pursue a remedy or process change.