Acushnet Board of Selectmen unanimously appoints Gary Coppa permanent police chief

ACUSHNET -- March 6, 2026, Acushnet Board of Selectmen appoints Gary Coppa permanent police chief at $150,800 base salary. The board voted unanimously Friday to confirm Coppa, who had been serving in an interim role, following two back-to-back executive sessions held under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A to negotiate his non-union contract. Member Dion Hinkley made the motion, saying he looked forward to calling Coppa "Chief" officially. The board also voted to form a solar pilot working group, comprising the town administrator, principal assessor, assistant town accountant, and treasurer/collector, with municipal finance firm Coltman and Page, after hearing from Zachary Farkas of Rewild Renewables, who said his 5.5-megawatt Clem's Way project could yield roughly $50,000 annually over 20 years, or about $1.2 million total, under a pilot agreement. The board additionally approved a month-to-month contract with MP Water Systems Management, Inc. to restore the town's compliance with state DEP requirements for a primary water operator, and approved a Class II used-car license for 619 Main Street contingent on Zoning Board of Appeals approval.