Blandford Select Board Approves Seven Appointments and AV Contract Monday

BLANDFORD -- May 4, 2026, Blandford Select Board confirms seven annual appointments and signs a $19,700 gymnasium AV contract. The board voted unanimously Monday to reappoint Kelly Pontriburian as town accountant, Matthew Ripley as assistant wiring inspector, Nathan Kowalski as wiring inspector, Jason Frog as building inspector, Jennifer DeBile as both police chief for the Chester-Blandford Police Department and animal patrol officer, and Jennifer Girard as safety director, all for fiscal year 2027. The board also approved a contract with Valley Communications at $19,700.20 for a new speaker system and wireless microphone setup in the town gymnasium, well below a competing bid of $75,000. A staff member relayed that excise demand bills delayed by postal routing errors through Georgia have been given an extended payment deadline of May 18, 2026, with no additional interest accruing beyond the April 2 bill date, though the original $30 demand fee stands. The board also learned for the first time that its 30-day Board of Health review window for large project applications is set by local bylaw, not state law, prompting a board member to say she would seek to extend it to 60 days at a Wednesday Planning Board meeting.