Acushnet: Board of Selectmen Oct. 14, 2026

The Acushnet Board of Selectmen met on October 14, 2026, to address public hearings, utility adjustments, appointments, and capital maintenance requests. Following the call to order and pledge of allegiance, the board held a public hearing and unanimously approved a liquor license transfer along with pledges of inventory and license from Chitchat Inc. to Acushnet Wine and Spirits, Inc. (doing business as Scuttlebutts at 590 Main Street), managed and owned by Joseph Amaral. The board also resumed a continued public hearing for Eversource petition PP235516; although board members voiced sharp criticism that Eversource completed work—including push braces and guy anchors—prior to town approval, they voted unanimously to approve the petition.

Following two executive sessions covering non-union personnel contract negotiations and collective bargaining strategy, the board reconvened to adopt revised water and sewer rates effective July 1, 2026. Water rates were increased to offset higher wholesale charges from the City of New Bedford, while sewer rates were reduced by 50 cents across all consumption tiers due to a healthy retained earnings surplus. The selectmen strongly denounced Eversource's regional rollout of smart meters and expressed vehement opposition to Massachusetts ballot Question 7, arguing that proposed 5,000-square-foot lot zoning would overwhelm rural municipal infrastructure and schools before approving the 2026 state election warrant.

In further business, the board approved DPW road paving for Union Street by November 15, with discretion to also pave William Street and Maple Street if funding allows. Other approvals included the appointment of James Williams as water operator, Vincent Samson and Dennis Mattos as golf starters, a $3,600 landscaping plan for the Veterans Memorial, and a coin-operated DOT machine license for the Acushnet American Legion. Finally, the board approved two reserve fund transfers: up to $10,000 for emergency HVAC repairs at the Police Department (rejecting a $20,000 hot water tank replacement quote) and up to $4,500 for roofing materials and a gas heater installation at the Town Hall maintenance garage.

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