The extra spectators appeared in the wake last week of Internet postings of Moore charges to the Township credit card that some thought were profligate. In a press release (not sent to FEN) Moore justified most of them as ordinary business expenses. However, Thursday during the public comments period Pam Fender, former Township Administrator whom Moore fired, read off a list of the Supervisors charges at restaurants and a couple of sight-seeing tours in Washington DC she hadn't explained. Moore said the meals were while she was on Township business and later told FEN the tours were an official part of a national convention for township officials.
Moore and the Board had wrangled earlier in the session over the credit card which they directed her to cancel two months ago but which she has continued to use to the tune of about $2,400 last month. "The credit card has been in place since 2005," said Moore who noted the Township Board had authorized getting it in the first place. Constantly interrupting each other, trustees replied that was true but now they were unauthorizing it.
Thursday's meeting started with a perfunctory public hearing to approve a $1.6 million Township budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year. Among other minutiae, it scaled back Grafton Township Senior Bingo from twice a month to once. Moore supporter Loretta Wuich in her public comments later begged, "Please don't cut our Senior Bingo." Board budgeteer Betty Zirk had originally chopped the item in half to help pay the Township's monumental legal bills but Thursday she said another reason was because Moore was spending so much time on Bingo that she wasn't getting meeting packets ready for trustees in time. Trustee Rob LaPorta accused Moore of failing to prioritize her time. "Senior Bingo doesn't interfere with the Supervisor's duties," said Moore.
Moore charged trustees were actually "micromanaging" her in violation of Circuit Judge Michael Caldwell's order that she was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Township. That set off another rant by trustee Jerry McMahon. He called for Caldwell's removal from the bench bringing a visible cringe from the rest of the trustees before they could finally make him be quiet again.
Flagging after two hours of battle, trustees only raised comparatively mild objections to Moore's surprise request they renew the Township's health insurance plan before it runs out.
"This letter is dated May 14 and we're just getting it now?" complained trustee Rob LaPorta.
"It was given to the Assessor and the Road Commissioner," replied Moore.
"But it wasn't given to the Board," cried Trustee Barb Murphy.
In the pic: Former Township Administrator Pam Fender read a list Thursday of what she said were dubious credit card charges made by Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore.
16 comments:
Is THIS what you wanted people of Grafton (Huntley)? 'Cuz THIS is what you voted for! Way to go Zillers, Wuichs, Halet.
Monkeyshines Moore is at it again.
Since when is "oversight" the same thing as "operation". She's being held accountable (and now in a very public way), and she doesn't like it one bit.
Sight-seeing ought to be a personal expense, not a taxpayer funded expense. I checked the seminar schedule of the 2011 conference - no topics on ethics were presented (http://www.natat.org/DocumentView.aspx?DID=70). For that matter, the only applicable topic to Moore was the picture taking session on Capitol Hill. Yippee-skippy!! One possible good topic for Moore was grant writing tips. Too bad this came after Moore failed to secure a grant from the county board for senior transportation.
As for township business meals that get expensed, if she covered the food for more than herself, she ought to provide a list of who was the beneficiary of a taxpayer lunch. For that matter, can I be part of the "Free Lunch with Linda" program. That's one way I can get a part of my $62.37 taxes back in my pocket.
And if Senior Bingo isn't interfering with discharging the duties of the job, maybe the re-election/re-branding campaign is. Let her medical insurance run out - just vote "no" like she does.
They can't do this to you Linda! SUE THEM, SUE THEM ALLLLLL!!!!! (Voice in Linda's head {one of them} )
If that large man at the Trustees' table is actually a Trustee, why doesn't he sit on the same side of the table as the other three Trustees?
Gus, if that is your ONLY critical observation (who sits where) you need to refocus!
Seating?! You're worried about seating?! Do you even know how much money she has wasted?
@Gus
How is that relevant to the topic at hand? Are there not more important questions that should be asked?
Mrs. Moorelawsuits
Moore's idea of "justifications" is far different from what most people consider justifications. In her head, the lawsuits were justified and now the taxpayers are out $600,000 with more lawsuits coming. Aside from her little clique, that kind of spending (along with her open and unaccounted expenses) is totally unjustified.
Wow! Moore even has power over a partner in the Audit Firm of Evans, Marshall & Pease. who was ordered by Moore to cease all discussions with the Trustees, who by nature of their roles, have audit responsibility. This same firm never completed one of the years of their contracted audit responsibility, and then never corrected errors within a report they submitted for the other contracted year! And they were over 6 months late in submitting the reports!
All prior audits of prior auditors were completed in a timely fashion, completed accurate reports and completed meetings with the board to review their completed reports in detail. They also responded to all trustee questions via phone,
Hmm, why is Paul H. Thermen, CPA, Audit Partner refusing to complete their work, communicate with the board, and respond to Trustee's questions? Call him and find out:
Paul H. Thermen, C.P.A.
Phone: 847-221-5700
Fax: 847-221-5701
E-mail: paul@empcpa.com
http://www.empcpa.com/contact.html
Do you think she threatened to sue him ? Hmmmmmm!
Stopping questions from the trustees results in stoppage of payment for services rendered. That in turn means the audit never gets finalized. Without any sort of finalization, the public has nothing to FOIA, all findings/issues will not see the light of day, and the supervisor can tell the public whatever she wants (like, "the audits are completed"). If they are finalized, then they are in the public record and FOIA-able. Guess what - none of the supposed "final reports" are available thru FOIA. The shell game continues...
Someone told me Linda sent incomplete and unapproved audits to the state so she would get on their good side. I was told she was in the state's doghouse because of the three unfiled audits. If she's legally bound to get these completed and filed, why hasn't the state's AG held her accountable? Shouldn't they be doing their job when Linda doesn't? And why in the world would they accept audits that are unofficial? If they do accept anything, what's to stop some crook from putting together jibberish, calling it an audit and filing it with the state? For that matter, did anyone see what Linda submitted?
Gus, you are so right. This guy should face the audience like a grownup.No this does not solve other problems but attempting to be professional even if he isn't is a start.
We all know "Gus the sheriff basher" Is best buds with Mchenry's "Bald Blogger". Grafton townships very own Paparazzi. Who is sad because he is forced to take pictures from the back of the room. And that keeps him from sticking his lens in peoples faces and pretending he is an important photo journalist.
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