Pepperell Select Board Approves Police Chief Contract Worth Up to $203,000

PEPPERELL -- July 8, 2026, Pepperell Select Board unanimously approves police chief contract and celebrates a $6.2 million state emergency communications grant. The board voted 3-0 Tuesday to extend Police Chief Todd Blaine's contract through fiscal year 2029 at salaries of $187,000, $195,000, and $203,000, figures the town administrator described as below the midpoint for comparable communities even at the final year. Town Administrator Andrew announced the $6.2 million State 911 program grant for renovations to 59 Main Street, which will house the expanded Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center; he credited Patriot director David Stairs entirely for the award, saying "his reputation was several of the check boxes for the town to get it awarded." The board also approved a Class 2 used car dealer license for collector-car restoration specialist Jacob Kryan at 76 Prescott Street, a common victualler license transfer for incoming Pepperell Quality Market manager Fayez Washwell, authorization for fiscal year 2026 municipal relief transfers and a fiscal year 2027 utility account consolidation, and a revised facility naming policy requiring unanimous board approval and a public information session before any town facility is formally named.