TEMPLETON — Town Administrator Adam Lamontagne has resigned, attributing his decision to legal costs, ongoing disputes with the Select Board, and an impending hearing related to a complaint against him.
In his resignation letter, dated March 4, 2025, Lamontagne said he had incurred $2,616.20 in legal fees as a result of his employment, calling the expenses unfair. He maintained that his actions as town administrator were in the best financial interest of Templeton taxpayers and that he had acted in good faith.
His resignation takes effect on March 17, providing two weeks’ notice to the town.
Conflict with the Select Board
Lamontagne’s resignation follows a series of disputes with the Select Board. He previously faced a contentious job evaluation and claimed that a prior attempt to hold a hearing against him had failed. In his resignation letter, he accused board members of using the upcoming hearing to undermine his ability to perform his job.
According to MassLive, the complaint prompting the hearing was filed by Narragansett Regional School District Superintendent Christopher Casavant. The hearing is scheduled for March 18, just one day after Lamontagne’s departure.
Defending his decisions, Lamontagne told MassLive, “It was for the finances of the town. My job as chief financial officer is to make sure the budget is balanced and doing my fiduciary responsibility I have due for the taxpayers of the town.”
Background and tenure in Templeton
Lamontagne joined the town in 2018 as a management fellow before being promoted to assistant town administrator. He became town administrator in 2020, making him the first to hold the position full-time, The Gardner News reported.
Prior to his tenure in Templeton, he served on the Chicopee School Committee and City Council before briefly working as a police officer in the city. He later returned to municipal administration.
What’s next for Templeton?
The Templeton Select Board is set to meet on March 12 to discuss its next steps in finding a new town administrator.
The board’s agenda also includes an open meeting complaint and a request from Clerk Jeffrey Bennett for Chairman Michael Currie to step down.
Currie, who chaired the board when Lamontagne was hired, has also served on the town’s Advisory Board and the Veterans Advisory and Oversight Board, according to his LinkedIn profile.
