Holbrook joins Old Burial Hill oversight committee

MARBLEHEAD – The five-member Old Burial Hill Oversight Committee has a new member, former library trustee and Navy veteran Richard Holbrook.Selectmen voted Thursday morning 3-0 to appoint Holbrook, who originally applied for a seat on the committee two years ago. He will take the place of E. Russell “Zeke” Peach, who resigned a month ago, and he will be able to participate in overseeing the actual repair of damaged gravesites.Town Planner Becky Curran said the town advertised for bids for the work Thursday, with an Oct. 19 deadline.When he originally applied, Holbrook told the board he had a strong interest in local history and he was “particularly concerned with the upkeep of (Marblehead) landmarks, especially Old Burial Hill where the monuments have fallen into disrepair.”A Marblehead native and graduate of Boston University and Harvard Business School, Holbrook had a successful career in marketing and sales. When he returned to Marblehead in 1998, he served two three-year terms as a library trustee, including five years as chairman.When Holbrook applied he was one of seven candidates for the four at-large seats on the committee. He explained to selectmen that he had taken an active interest in the repair of the 1638 cemetery and had spoken with Fannin-Lehner Conservators, an historic preservation consulting firm, and offered to recuse himself if necessary during consultant interviews.Since then selectmen and committee members chose Ivan Myjer of Building & Monument Conservation and the restoration survey project has been completed.