Acushnet Select Board Names Copper Police Chief, Hires Town Administrator

ACUSHNET — February 27, 2026 — Acushnet Select Board unanimously appointed Interim Police Chief Gary S. Copper as permanent chief and hired Adam Lamontagne as town administrator at a first-year salary of $139,000, with an April 1 start date, at a condensed Friday session. The board had conducted a formal assessment center with three candidates; Copper ranked first, followed by Detective Sergeant Jeremy Fontes, who also addressed the board Friday. The police chief post had been vacant for roughly 18 months. Fire Chief Tom Farland briefed the board on blizzard recovery, noting a deadline of March 6 to submit cost figures to MEMA for a potential federal disaster declaration and warning that reimbursements, if approved, could lag by six months — requiring the town to temporarily draw from multiple budget lines to cover storm costs. The board is set to meet again March 6 to address a consulting agreement with outgoing Town Administrator Jamie Kelly, whose retirement took effect at the close of business February 27.