Finance Committee member alleges defamation by town officials

MIDDLEBORO — Several town officials defamed Finance Committee member John Barrella, according to a letter from Barrella’s attorney that was read aloud at the May 5 Select Board meeting.

The letter was drafted by Attorney William Chignola and addressed to Select Board Chair Mark Germain and members Teresa Farley, Brian Giovanoni, William Pike and Thomas White, as well as Town Manager James McGrail and Finance Committee Chair Eric Machado.

Three weeks ago the Select Board accused Barrella of “constant harassment” of McGrail and issued an order prohibiting any further communication between them. The order and accusations were outlined in an email written by Germain and endorsed by all five Select Board members. The same day, the Finance Committee removed Barrella from his position as chair and elected Machado in his stead. 

Beginning shortly after his election in April 2024, Barrella began requesting information related to Capital Planning Committee meeting minutes, budget data and other financial records. The requests eventually lead to the harassment accusations, the no contact order and his removal as chair. 

The letter from Chignola is not a lawsuit. Instead, it serves as a “formal demand for relief regarding multiple unlawful acts taken against Mr. Barrella’’ and a response to the board’s order and accusations. 

According to Chignola, the actions against Barrella were taken “in retaliation for his good faith efforts to investigate and report on financial discrepancies’’ within the town budget. Chignola claims Barrella has been “subjected to public criticism and ostracization’’ because of town officials’ actions. 

He went on to write that Germain’s email represented an effort to “silence and punish’’ Barrella for attempting to uncover “financial discrepancies’’ in previous town budgets. 

The town’s actions also violate his protections as a “whistleblower’’ who was attempting to make the public aware of financial situations, which Chignola wrote is “not only protected but expected’’ of a Finance Committee member.

Barrella has raised concerns about budget discrepancies, questioned past payroll budgeting, and inquired about the town’s borrowing practices, among other issues.

McGrail responded to Barrella’s concerns on April 25 and explained the reasoning behind the numbers he questioned. 

According to Chignola, select board members made “no effort to investigate the truth of the accusations.’’

Chignola requested a formal written retraction of the statements about Barrella to be read aloud and published; his immediate reinstatement as chair; the production of all related documents within 15 business days and a full independent investigation by a “neutral third party,’’ among other stipulations.

If this does not happen, Chignola wrote that further legal action could be taken through the state Attorney General’s office, the state Ethics Commission and other civil entities.

Select board members took exception to the manner the letter was delivered. An unidentified man handed out copies of the letter during the recitation of the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of the meeting.

Interrupting the pledge was “disrespectful,’’ a visibly angry White said.

Giovanoni asked the deliverer to wait until the pledge was completed. The man refused to delay the delivery.

Germain and Machado did not wish to comment, with Germain citing pending litigation. Barrella and Chignola did not respond to requests for comment.