SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The proposal for a new courthouse in Springfield was approved by the Asset Management Board Tuesday, with one "no" vote from the Inspector General. According to a news release from Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro's office, he voted against approving the Springfield Regional Justice Center proposal out of concern that the bidding process will not be fair and competitive. Plan for new Springfield courthouse gains momentum “I do not dispute the need for a new building and that the current courthouse poses health and safety risks to those who must use the building,” Shapiro said.  “However, numerous public statements by public officials dating back to 2022, seem to be steering the proposal to a specific site and developer, which could have a chilling effect on competition. I hope that my no vote provides clarity of what must be done to ensure that a truly open, fair, and competitive process results.” The Board reviews and approves proposed projects that involve the long-term lease of real estate assets held by state agencies. The Massachusetts Trial Court wants to build a new facility to lease to Springfield to replace the current Ireland Courthouse which has had environmental problems, including black mold. The idea is to acquire a leased space of up to 330-thousand usable square feet for an initial lease term of 40 years and then two ten-year extension options, for a maximum term of 60 years. In September the Office of the Inspector General issued a report, The Star Store 20-Year Lease – A Lack of Shared Vision and Collective Accountability Wastes Millions in Public Dollars, identifying problems associated with long-term lease agreements between the state and a private developer. Local News Headlines Florida saw its largest snowfall in history while Massachusetts temperatures reached coldest in years Springfield Jewish Community Center set to reopen after 2022 fire Trump citizenship order draws quick lawsuit Cost concerns threaded 1983 shelter debate WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.