Moore presses bid to stop Grafton Township hall
Linda Moore campaigned for Grafton Township supervisor on a promise to stop construction of a new, $3.5-million township hall.
After eking out a narrow primary victory over incumbent John Rossi, Moore and others who oppose the new building as unnecessary and too costly are working to keep that promise.
• They have filed a lawsuit against the township seeking an injunction to stop Rossi from taking any further action on the township hall.
• Opponents submitted a petition to the township recommending the issue be put to voters at the next general election.
• Residents will get to weigh in on the issue at an annual meeting of township electors on April 14.
Moore believes she can fulfill her campaign promise through the multipronged strategy to halt construction.
"At the annual town meeting - the voters can make decisions that will cause this project to proceed or terminate," Moore said in a prepared statement. "The voters will oppose the continuation of the construction plans."
An attorney retained by opponents said votes cast by residents at an annual meeting are legally binding.
"The township electors do have authority to determine construction of a town hall" attorney James Bishop said. "The township electors can make nearly any determination at the annual meeting."
Moore and her supporters also will have the cooperation of Rossi, who said he will not press forward with plans for the new hall.
"We came to the consensus that we would postpone any action on the township hall until the new officers take their positions," Rossi said. "I'll let her discuss it with the new board, and they can proceed as they please."
The current supervisor, who argued a new building was needed to accommodate an increased demand for township services, said no contracts or bids have been approved for construction work on the hall.
Although Moore has only won the Republican primary in Grafton Township, she is expected to take office because she will be unopposed on the April 7 ballot.