Judge Orders Grafton Twp. Phones Restored

A McHenry County Circuit Judge ordered AT&T to restore original telephone and Internet service to the Grafton Township Office Friday. Judge Thomas Meyer ordered Supervisor Linda Moore not to change township phones after service to the offices vanished Thursday in what trustees called a "hijacking".

Rockford attorney John Nelson in a written response to Grafton trustees' motion argued that since they'd voted to move Moore to a different office in the township hall, she'd decided to work from her home and, since part of her work was answering the phone, she had the lines switched there, too. That included the phone for the Grafton Senior Bus, a program Nelson branded in passing as "without any statutory authority".

The judge didn't buy that argument, though, issuing a temporary order at least until the phones dispute and a farrago of often mutual complaints from and about the Township, the Supervisor and the Trustees goes before Judge Michael Caldwell Tuesday.

Township Administrator Pam Fender said Township Office phones were back  Friday afternoon although they don't all ring in the right places.

Moore couldn't be reached for comment Friday.

Trustee Rob LaPorta charged Friday that switching the lines was more than a prank.  "There were some seniors who missed doctor appointments and had to pay 'no show' fees because they couldn't get the bus," he said.

In the pic:  Moore at this week's Grafton Special Meeting.