Moore agrees to pay back accidentally contributed money

SUN CITY – A dispute over money given to the wrong charity last fall may be near its resolution.

Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore issued a press release  soon after a Jan. 10 Township Board meeting announcing that she will return money to anyone who mistakenly had checks delivered to the food pantry she operates, so long as a written request with proof of claim is provided.

A few residents of Neighborhood 12 give money twice a year to the Grafton Food Pantry in the form of individual checks. This year, complications arose after a resident mistakenly dropped off the checks – worth a combined $1,080 – on Oct. 29 to the Grafton Township Food Pantry, a separate entity with a similar name.

The error went unreported until Nov. 3, when Jerry LaBonte, N.12 chairperson representative, received a letter from Moore thanking him for his individual contribution.

“The Grafton Food Pantry donation was used to fill the township pantry’s empty shelves serving those in need. The recipients of the food were very appreciative of the donation,” Moore said in email correspondence with the Sun Day.

As the letter arrived on Saturday, LaBonte said he spoke with Moore the following Monday and asked for the money to be returned. LaBonte said his request was denied with Moore saying there was nothing she could do; the checks were already cashed and the money was going to a good cause either way.

LaBonte said he gave Moore the benefit of the doubt over the checks having already been cashed, but said the money was better served through the Grafton Food Pantry as intende, since their cooperation with the Northern Illinois Food Bank gives each dollar they receive $4 of buying power. He also called the decision Moore was faced with – whether or not to return money intended for someone else – an “obvious” one.

“If it’s obvious for the average Joe, it certainly should be obvious to the elected supervisor who’s supposed to be serving her constituents,” LaBonte said.

The matter was left unresolved through November and December, after which LaBonte attended a Grafton Township Board meeting and told his story.

A press release issued by Moore a few days after that meeting told a story different from LaBonte’s.

“No one told us that at the time,” Moore is quoted as saying in the release, referring to no one bringing up the incident until the Jan. 10 meeting. “Due to the timing of Mr. LaBonte’s comments it is hoped this is not a political move what with the Republican primary election coming up February 26, 2013.”

LaBonte denies the political claim, calling it “coincidental.”

“If this had happened a year ago, we would have made the petition a year ago,” he said.

Moore said neither since nor before announcing her plan to refund the checks has she heard from any residents asking for refunds other than LaBonte.
LaBonte said he was asking her for refunds on behalf of all contributors as their neighborhood representative. He said Moore has denied his status as a representative of his community, calling him “self-appointed” in the press release, though he was elected by his neighbors.

Moore said LaBonte placed a stop payment on his check and is technically not among those who contributed in error to Grafton Township Food Pantry.

“State law requires all moneys received by the township to be deposited within 48 hours. To protect the township funds, any money that is expended by the board requires proper documentation for the audit trail. Legal advice was necessary to ensure that I acted within my authority and that I protect the township from false claims,” Linda said explaining her decision to employ lawyers.

The press release states “minimum proof of claim” must be provided by anyone seeking a refund, but Moore did not expand on what the proof entails.

LaBonte said he understands proof would be required but sees anything asked for other than cancelled checks as being unnecessary.

---