Dispute in Orland Township

Orland Township, IL – A workplace dispute in Orland Township has escalated into a legal and political controversy, with allegations of harassment, political favoritism, and retaliation involving Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady, Highway Commissioner Antonio Rubino, and Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz.

Allegations of Intimidation at Public Event
The issue gained attention after a confrontation at the Pet-Palooza event on September 24, 2022. Nora Tuzim, Executive Assistant to Highway Commissioner Antonio Rubino, reported an aggressive altercation with Supervisor Paul O’Grady. According to Tuzim, O’Grady approached her and Rubino in a hostile manner, waving his phone and yelling, “You shouldn’t be here, you’re wrong, that girl is crying about what happened.” Feeling intimidated, Tuzim stepped behind Rubino, fearing that O’Grady might physically throw his phone at her.
Following this encounter, Tuzim suggested filing a police report, but Rubino opted to consult with the Highway Department’s attorney instead. The incident was further complicated by the presence of Tinley Park Mayor Mike Glotz and Trustee John Lynch, who allegedly observed and supported O’Grady’s actions.

Political Hiring Controversy
At the heart of Tuzim’s allegations is the claim that she is being targeted because she was hired over O’Grady’s preferred candidate—Mayor Michael Glotz’s wife. According to former Township Administrator Mary Hastings, O’Grady had pushed for Glotz’s wife to be hired as Rubino’s Executive Assistant, possibly as a political favor. Hastings noted that O’Grady was politically aligned with Glotz and also served as the Village Attorney for Tinley Park. Adding to these concerns, Tuzim recalled a conversation she had with Trustee John Lynch on May 17, 2021. During their discussion, when Tuzim informed Lynch that she had been hired as the assistant to the Highway Commissioner, Lynch responded by saying:
“Hey kid, remember who brought you to the dance, that job wasn’t supposed to go to you, it was supposed to go to someone else.”

Several sources suggest that Glotz personally lobbied for his wife’s appointment, using his political connections to pressure Rubino into hiring her. Despite these efforts, Rubino ultimately made his own hiring decision, appointing Tuzim instead. This decision allegedly led to increased tension and retaliatory actions from O’Grady, who was displeased that his political ally’s wife was not selected for the position. With William “Bill” Brennan (current Tinley Park Village Trustee and Glotz loyalist) now a Republican candidate for Orland Township Highway Commissioner, questions have arisen about whether Glotz will once again attempt to secure a publicly funded job for his wife through political influence.

Claims of Retaliation and Harassment
Tuzim alleges that since her hiring, O’Grady has taken numerous actions to undermine her, including:

• Barring her from Township buildings, preventing her from assisting with health services tasks.
• Filing a large FOIA request targeting her emails, which she perceives as an intimidation tactic.
• Publicly criticizing her job performance, particularly regarding the payment of bills, despite evidence contradicting his claims.
• Interfering with her work, including blocking Highway Department communications in Township newsletters.
• Altering her email signature block without her consent, raising concerns about unauthorized access to her work account.

Legal Response and Township’s Denial
On September 27, 2022, Tuzim submitted a formal complaint to the Orland Township Highway Commissioner, detailing her grievances against O’Grady. Legal representatives for Rubino and Tuzim demanded an independent third-party investigation into O’Grady’s conduct.
However, in an October 11, 2022 response, the Township’s attorney dismissed the allegations, calling them unsubstantiated and retaliatory. The Township denied that O’Grady had any influence over Rubino’s hiring decisions and rejected the request for an external investigation.

Escalating Conflict
Despite the Township’s denial, tensions have continued to rise. Several actions by O’Grady’s office suggest an ongoing power struggle between the Township and the Highway Department:

• Elimination of the Highway Commissioner’s report from Township board meetings.
• Removal of Highway Department news from the Township newsletter, in violation of prior agreements.
• Plans to remove Township equipment from Highway Department premises.

What’s Next?
Residents simply cannot stand for this type of behavior. Supervisor Paul O’Grady and Mayor Michael Glotz have created hostile workplaces full of political operatives and hidden agendas. The allegations surrounding Glotz’s attempt to secure a job for his wife through political maneuvering highlight a deeper issue of favoritism and political interference in local government operations.
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE to stop them.