Council Appropriates $100,000 for Board of Health Legal Costs; Audit Committee to Review Parallel Products Spending

The New Bedford City Council on Thursday approved an emergency appropriation of $100,000 to the Board of Health to secure independent legal counsel for an anticipated appeal in the Parallel Products matter and referred related spending questions to the audit committee.

Councilor Leo Choquette (Ward 1) introduced the motion under authority of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 33 and said the council could act because the mayor had not signed his earlier request. "If I were a betting person, I would assume that they are going to file the appeal," Choquette said, urging the council to authorize the funds.

The appropriation passed on a roll-call vote, 11–0. The clerk read the roll call after debate; each member voted "Yes."

Separately, councilors moved several items relating to prior appropriations and agreements concerning the Parallel Products project to the audit committee for further review. Councilor Linda Morad, chairing discussion on the referral, said audit should examine how earlier funds—about $250,000 appropriated to contest the project—were spent, and whether any memorandum of understanding with the developer affected how the money was used. Morad said administration representatives did not appear at an earlier finance meeting and that audit should have authority to summon staff for answers.

Why it matters: The Board of Health rejected the Parallel Products project earlier in the process, and the company has a pending deadline to file an appeal. Councilors said the $100,000 appropriation is needed to ensure the Board of Health has independent counsel to pursue or defend the city’s position. Councilors also expressed a need for transparency about how prior appropriations related to the project were used.

Details: Councilor Choquette noted an anticipated appeal deadline of Oct. 31. Councilor Morad told the council that the audit committee will meet promptly to request documentation and invoices tied to prior appropriations and the administration’s memorandum of understanding with the developer.

What’s next: The Board of Health will have access to the appropriated fund to secure counsel. The audit committee will schedule hearings to review prior spending and may use committee powers to require personnel to appear.