The weekly newsletter of Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore:
It’s Time to Address Misinformation in Grafton Township
Linda Moore
Dear Friends,
Politics are rough and information is getting twisted by others. It is time to address the misinformation that has been circulated.
When I ran for election in 2009, I started a citizen initiative to seek an injunction stopping the construction of an unneeded new town hall. The effort was not lawfully entered into by the township board. A judge granted an injunction stopping the illegal acts.
Three of the four trustees were re-elected, and I won the election for Supervisor. The three returning trustees were very, very upset with the outcome.
In an effort to remove me from my elected position as the new Supervisor, they hired Pam Fender to take over my duties in early 2010.
Without legal authority, she began to oversee my activities, change the locks on the office, answer my phone calls, change the passwords on the computers, and generally make it impossible for me to carry out the duties that I am sworn to fulfill. Their goal was to cause me to be guilty of failure to perform my duties.
The only way to resolve the dilemma was to file suit against the trustees.
I won in court. On December 2010, in a 37 page court order, the services of Pam Fender and the township attorney were terminated. This enabled me to return to the office and conduct township business. This suit resulted in a second injunction against these trustees. Now Fender is running against me for Supervisor.
Recent legal bills for the trustees average $8,777 monthly, totaling $70,216 for the last 8 months. All court rulings that are adverse to the trustees are appealed.
I do not have the authority to prevent the trustees’ legal bills, only to pay them after they approve them.
Due to my need to protect and defend the township, a small fraction of the bills have been incurred by me. These trustees wasted not only a half-million dollars of taxpayer funds on their illegal efforts to build a new town hall, but they also spent another half-million dollars attempting to try to illegally remove me from office. Their guy getting beat in the election was not good enough for them. . Fortunately, only one of these trustees has filed for re-election.
My preference is to keep my personal matters private but, unfortunately, misinformation is being circulated. During my term of office, my adversaries have contacted my family members and gotten involved in some very sad things that have happened in my life during the last the last 3 years. They use my personal situation for political and malicious gain. However, these life experiences, coupled with the educational training I have received over the years, have given me valuable knowledge of the needs of seniors and disabled residents.
My work to save tax dollars is not done. We need to remain vigilant to stop any efforts to build a new town hall. (Fender even proposed an old industrial building for a new township hall when she was on the payroll.)
Recent changes in legislation have eliminated the need for your approval to build a new hall. A new building wasn’t needed in 2009 and it still isn’t needed. The existing building is very sound, functional and adequate in size.
My track record of working against a new town hall is undeniable.
The township could do its job for a lot less money. We need to reduce your taxes. I am the only Grafton Township board member to vote consistently against increasing your taxes. I plan to freeze or lower taxes for the next four years.
With your support, I will win re-election in the township primary February 26, 2013.
Sincerely,
LINDA MOORE
Grafton Township Supervisor
1-847-630-6325 lindamooregt@gmail.com
You have my vote and I hope the vote of every Grafton resident who wants Grafton township to move forward not backward as the current trustees are doing.
Your personal life is yours not the trustees but they and their supporters will not admit they lost and you won.
Linda, It looks good on paper telling voters you never voted to increase taxes, BUT records show you voted YES on the levy last year.
Revisionist history and pandering?
You will never get my vote and I hope that Grafton residents have heard enough about you to vote against you!!
Instead of writing letters full of BS, why don’t you list exactly what you have done for the BETTER of the township in the past 3 1/2 years. Oh wait, there isn’t anything and you know it! Running senior bingo is hardly something to write home about.
We are counting the days until you are out of office and this township CAN move forward. WITHOUT YOU!!!!!
Motion amended by Trustee Zirk, seconded by Trustee Murphy, to approve a TAX LEVY ORDINANCE 1282011-1, AN ORDINANCE LEVYING TAXES FOR GRAFTON TOWNSHIP FOR TAX YEAR 2011, COLLECTIBLE IN 2012, on the condition of approval of the format of the McHenry County Clerk.
AYES: Trustees Zirk, Murphy. LaPorta, McMahon
NAYS: Supervisor Moore
ABSTAIN: None
Motion Passed.
The township will move forward when there are 4 new trustees.
The one still running thinks she can do as she did years ago.
Well someone should tell her things have changed in the last 20 years.
It never ceases to amaze me how many facts are wrong or distorted when coming from Moore’s political and personal detractors.
They are petty at best and cyber bullies whenever they are in disagreement with well – ANYONE.
Moore reads the laws and wants the Township to follow them. So far all they seem interested in is smearing her.
I give her credit for having guts and for wanting to reduce costs, etc.
“Moore reads the laws and wants the Township to follow them.”
Which laws?
Moore reads the laws and mis-interperets them.
This is the reason townships should have an attorney on staff….so they can help us with the interpretation.
The problem with Linda is that she tries to manipulate what the law says to fit her agenda.
The trustees and anyone who attends the meetings can see this and confronts her.
The next thing you know, they’re all back in court.
Based on the interaction I’ve had with her, I truly believe she does this intentionally.
Linda Moore cannot be trusted and she will NOT be getting my vote.
STL Its the Christmas season, why not take a vacation from your campaign of hatred?
I don’t use that word.
Perhaps you heard it from Linda.
What word don’t you understand? Christmas, season, vacation, or campaign? It is surely not hatred because that is all you have .
“Hate” is your word not mine.
Linda is an elected official…..for now.
When she rights an article full of lies it’s my duty, as a citizen of Grafton Township, to call her out on it.
If she doesn’t like it, she can quit.
You have not cited any parts that are lies, only disagreed with another commenter.
No politician that incurs the amount of legal fees the Grafton Township Supervisor and Trustees have should be re-elected.
I don’t care what side you are on, the waste is enormous.
It shows me NONE of the parties are mature enough to put aside their emotions and develop resolutions like adults.
I once had a mentor tell me if the people we were dealing with were known problems then, at the very least, we could give an opportunity to someone else who may offer less problems.
The entirety of the Grafton Township legislative leadership has been a case study in why townships could be classified as irrelevant.
Although townships are one of the finest representations of The People when managed properly Grafton has been misrepresented by the Supervisor and the Trustees.
Townships are one of the closest governmental bodies to The People.
If the voters of Grafton Township decide to vote in the same nightmare rather than exploring the possibility of competent excellent leadership then they deserve what they get…. A continuation of the poor management of a great township.
Moore removed herself from the lawsuit because you cannot sue yourself.
So when she was elected is when she removed herself.
Interesting that specific people are still on this building. They fight for something that would have been an asset for EVERYONE (not just the select few who live in the unincorporated area). Yet they are ok with all the crapola and lawsuits that have been going on because Moore cannot complete the duties of her job or get along with anyone. She has illustrated her inabilies to work with people; internal or external to Grafton.
Facts: Moore took the township records, never told anyone she did, let the board vote on hiring Forensicon, cost taxpayers over $26,000.00 all on her own. She basically lied. Not saying that she had the records. It was not until she was in the hot seat during her testimony did she admit that she had the records on her thumbnail drives.
Facts: The trustees never had any access to any passwords ever to the township computers.
Facts: She brought a lap top computer to a meeting and they could not get into it with the password she brought with. the next meeting she brought the lap top and this time it was not even password protected. So she was walking around with a township computer with all the info and it was not protected.
Facts: Moore was the one who left seniors out in the cold.
Facts: Moore had an Erasure program installed on the township server before Fender walked in to do her job.
Facts: The judge did not declare that the administrator job was illegal. He stated that it was ok for the board to create the job, however, he stated that the supervisor should have filled it.
Facts: The judge ordered the supervisor to pay the bills that were approved and she still does not do that. Hence the road comm. and assessor are suing her because of that.
Ok do you start to see why so many are tired of Moore’s antics.
Fact: Moore’s personal issues should be regarded when they reflect upon her decision process, treatment of employees, and business ethics. Such characteristics carry through to Township matters. Anyone considering Moore should complete due diligence and research her mulitple lawsuits involving her family, personal business, and township. Yikes!
Until about 1970’s township electors had the power to set the budget at a line item level. When uppity electors did not follow the wishes of the Algonquin and Nunda Township Boards, the General Assembly changed the law to put that power into the hands of the Trustees.
So, while individual citizens do have still have some powers that voters in other local governments do not, the direct democracy argument has been substantially weakened over time.
Batgirl, you sound just like Trustee Murphy.
Too bad you don’t cite any sources to back up your accusations.
Supervisor Linda Moore Responds to Batgirl
Batgirl: Moore removed herself from the lawsuit because you cannot sue yourself.
So when she was elected is when she removed herself.
Supervisor Moore: Agreed, this is true.
Batgirl: Interesting that specific people are still on this building. They fight for something that would have been an asset for EVERYONE (not just the select few who live in the unincorporated area). Yet they are ok with all the crapola and lawsuits that have been going on because Moore cannot complete the duties of her job or get along with anyone. She has illustrated her inabilies to work with people; internal or external to Grafton.
Supervisor Moore: The current Trustees’ effort to build a town hall was illegal, thus the injunction on April 2009. A citizens’ financial analysis on the defunct town hall, shows that by 2013 the township would have used up all of its reserves and been forced to increase the taxes in a declining home value market.
Batgirl: Moore took the township records, never told anyone she did, let the board vote on hiring Forensicon, cost taxpayers over $26,000.00 all on her own. She basically lied. Not saying that she had the records. It was not until she was in the hot seat during her testimony did she admit that she had the records on her thumbnail drives.
Supervisor Moore: As the sole township official, bonded to be held personally responsible for the township funds, it is my duty to sign all checks and account for the funds. Despite being evicted from my office without authority by the trustees, the bills and employees continued to be paid. Upon being restored to the township hall, by court order, two years of audits were successfully completed with no data missing.
Batgirl: The trustees never had any access to any passwords ever to the township computers.
Supervisor Moore: The trustees hired Pam Fender who hired IT staff to change all passwords on the Supervisor’s computers. She reported directly to the trustees.
Batgirl: She brought a lap top computer to a meeting and they could not get into it with the password she brought with. the next meeting she brought the lap top and this time it was not even password protected. So she was walking around with a township computer with all the info and it was not protected.
Supervisor Moore: The trustees demand to have the financials brought to them on the laptop at the Huntley Park District where they hold the board meetings. The laptop never left my possession. The keyboard on this laptop is malfunctioning.
Batgirl: Moore was the one who left seniors out in the cold.
Supervisor Moore: On the day that Pam Fender took control of my office, she also took control of the transportation program. This is the day that is being referred to in this comment. The transportation program has expanded, increased efficiency and operated smoothly under my management.
Batgirl: Moore had an Erasure program installed on the township server before Fender walked in to do her job.
Supervisor Moore: Upon advice of IT personnel, we discontinued using a server installed by my predecessor. Some data was erased from this storage device and moved to a different machine.
Batgirl: The judge did not declare that the administrator job was illegal. He stated that it was ok for the board to create the job, however, he stated that the supervisor should have filled it.
Supervisor Moore: The trustees illegally hired their friend Pam Fender to fill this position with 4 page job description that details most of the duties of a township supervisor.
Batgirl: The judge ordered the supervisor to pay the bills that were approved and she still does not do that. Hence the road comm. and assessor are suing her because of that.
Ok do you start to see why so many are tired of Moore’s antics.
Supervisor Moore: All approved proper bills have been paid. At every board meeting the trustees will not approve 30% of the vendors on the bill list. The road commissioner is suing primarily to increase his pay, he has refused to provide proof to the contrary as requested. What the assessor claims to present as a bill, is in fact a quote to replace windows in his office.
Batgirl: Moore’s personal issues should be regarded when they reflect upon her decision process, treatment of employees, and business ethics. Such characteristics carry through to Township matters. Anyone considering Moore should complete due diligence and research her mulitple lawsuits involving her family, personal business, and township. Yikes!
Supervisor Moore: Family illness requiring court intervention has been used by this commenter for her own political and malicious gain. No employees in the township office have filed to collect unemployment from the township except Pam Fender, who was hired by her friends, the trustees. Deciding to run for office which halted illegal efforts to build a town hall is something I am happy to discuss.