Grafton clerk left because of toxic atmosphere

A former Grafton Township clerk testified Tuesday that she resigned earlier this year because she found it impossible to work with Township Supervisor Linda Moore.

Former Clerk Dina Frigo's remarks came on the fourth day of testimony in the lawsuit over competing claims stemming from the dispute between Moore and the four-person board of trustees.

Frigo said her relationship with Moore, who was elected in spring 2009, grew so toxic that Frigo refused to speak with Moore unless another person was present, while Moore filed numerous Freedom of Information Act requests to get records from Frigo - a formality usually reserved for members of the public and press.

That revelation came as a surprise to Judge Michael Caldwell, who said, "Wait a minute. You're telling me you got (Freedom of Information Act) requests from the township supervisor requesting records that were in the township hall?"

Frigo testified that after Moore refused to verify Frigo's employment to a lender and Frigo filed a police report because she was unable to get documents from Moore to fulfill a public records request, Frigo resigned from her elected post.

"I could not work with Linda Moore anymore," said Frigo, who left office in February. "It was very stressful for me and my family ... the constant (arguing), intimidation and harassment."

Trustee Betty Zirk testified that Moore interfered with mail intended for the trustees, refused to honor trustees' requests to place certain items on meeting agendas, raised bus rates for some seniors without board approval and prevented the board from approving some bills. Those actions, Zirk said, prompted the board to hire Huntley Trustee Pam Fender as township administrator.

"That brought on concerns and distrust," Zirk said. "We felt it was necessary to have an office administrator."

In her original lawsuit filed in March, Moore accuses the trustees of trying to prevent her from doing her job and seeks the right to fire Fender and the township's legal counsel.

Testimony is scheduled to continue today.