Pepperell names new fire chief, faces $900,000 budget shortfall

PEPPERELL — February 11, 2026 — Pepperell unanimously appointed Joseph Rock as fire chief and confronted a projected $900,000 fiscal year 2027 budget deficit at the Select Board's February 11 meeting. Town Administrator Andrew told the board that revenue is growing at only 2.9 percent while spending in four largely uncontrollable budget lines — health insurance, retirement, Nashoba Tech, and North Middlesex Regional — is rising well above that rate, producing a gap that he said could be trimmed to roughly $500,000 to $600,000 but not eliminated without new revenue. The town's $1.1 million in certified free cash faces simultaneous claims from a $104,000 snow-and-ice overrun and between $400,000 and $700,000 in capital requests headed to May town meeting. Rock, an AEMT with a background in medical technology, received the highest composite score — 462 out of 550 — from a 13-person, three-panel interview process; all interviewers recommended his appointment. Select Board member Chuck Walkovich argued the town has a structural revenue problem that cannot be solved by cuts alone, with a possible Proposition 2½ override on the horizon.