Grafton Twp. administrator, supervisor clash over copier

When Pam Fender assumed her new post as Grafton Township administrator last week, she predicted it would be a bumpy ride.

She was right.

Just one week after starting her job, Fender filed a police report Tuesday morning stemming from a confrontation with Township Supervisor Linda Moore.

Fender, also a Huntley village trustee, alleges that when she tried to enter Moore's office to use the copier around 8:35 a.m. Tuesday, Moore tried to close the door on her and slapped her arms to prevent her from coming in.

Both Moore and Fender said the township board voted Monday to have Moore keep her office door open to the public and other township employees, although Moore questions the legality of that vote.

"This is a government building; people should be able to come and go," Fender said. "The board wants me to have complete access to things, and she's not letting me do that."

For her part, Moore says Fender aggressively tried to enter her office without Moore's permission. According to police, Moore tried to file an assault charge against Fender, but police said it didn't quite rise to the level of assault. Moore also said she plans to contact her attorney for possible legal action.

"She called police ... and I'm the one receiving the aggressive behavior," Moore said. "I'm trying to cooperate with her, but when she physically forces herself into my office, I have to defend myself."

Moore also defended her practice of keeping her office door closed, saying it helps her maintain the confidentiality of residents seeking assistance.

Police confirmed Fender called them out to the township offices on Vine Street Tuesday and said no charges would be filed against either woman.

"Nobody was injured, and there was no complaint signed," Huntley Police Chief John Perkins said. "I'm not sure it was a police matter, but we went up there to deal with it."

Perkins said police were called out to the township offices for several petty disputes during spring and summer 2009.

"We basically quit responding unless it was a criminal matter," Perkins said.

The township board voted to hire Fender earlier this month to complete tasks that trustees say Moore refuses to do. Moore says Fender's salary - $35,000 plus benefits - is a waste of taxpayers' money.