Acushnet Board of Selectmen appoints stormwater agent, sets June 15 town meeting

ACUSHNET -- March 18, 2026, Acushnet Board of Selectmen appoints Julia Goncalves as stormwater agent and sets June 15 as town meeting date. The board voted unanimously at its March 18 meeting to add the stormwater agent role to Goncalves, who already serves as conservation agent, following a recommendation from Conservation Commission Chair Matt Kelly. The board also authorized staff to publish long-delayed trash disposal and hauling bid solicitations, with disposal bids due April 3, a compressed timeline that Board of Selectmen member Robert Gasper called "extremely dangerous" given an unresolved budget deficit and no current price for trash services. A citizen petition by Alexander Knox, seeking to exempt municipal buildings from a 2024 state firearms prohibition, was referred to the Town Clerk for signature certification before the board takes a position. Outgoing Chairman James Wona announced he will transfer the chairmanship to Gasper at the next meeting to provide continuity alongside incoming Town Administrator, whose first day is March 31.