Northborough Board unanimously nominates two Boardman Animal Control inspectors amid questions about coverage and response times

The Northborough Board of Health on March 31 unanimously nominated Jennifer Condon and Marissa Lord to serve as the town’s animal inspectors under the town’s current contract with Boardman Animal Control Services.

Isabella, a town staff member who presented the nomination, told the board the contract runs through June 2027 and that the town will start the procurement process and issue a request for proposals before that date. “The town currently has a contract with Boardman Animal Control Services until June 2027,” she said, and added that the two inspectors conduct inspections and handle animal-control calls in Northborough.

Isabella provided activity data for 2025, saying the town logged 31 barn inspections and 287 calls last year covering complaints, lost animals, wildlife, bites and quarantine orders. “These calls can range from complaints, lost animals, wildlife, miscellaneous calls, animal bites, and then quarantine orders,” she said.

Several board members pressed for more information about service levels and coverage. Lara Hellwig said she had seen Boardman list several towns on its website but not Northborough and asked whether the company’s coverage area and staffing might be slowing response times. “I looked at Boardman’s website; it looks like they cover seven or eight towns. Northborough isn’t even listed, which made me wonder whom they cover and whether response times are adequate,” Hellwig said.

Isabella said those questions are most appropriate to address at contract renewal, when the town will evaluate staffing, service levels and costs. She offered to pass board members’ concerns to town administration and to provide more detail when the contract comes up for review. Chair Glenn French asked that the board be briefed before any renewal decision is made.

Board members moved to nominate Condon and Lord and approved the nominations unanimously. Isabella said she would notify Jennifer Condon and complete the necessary paperwork.

The nomination was procedural: the Board of Health’s role is to make the annual appointment the town’s records require while the town administration handles contract procurement and oversight. The board did not change contract terms at the meeting; members requested that administration bring staffing and service-level information forward when the contract is re-evaluated.