In a Sept. 2 news release, Atty. Matthew Mobilio announced he has been retained to investigate all possible legal remedies, “including a possible federal civil rights lawsuit,” following alleged unfair treatment of Whitehall Township Treasurer Tina Koren by township officials.

A news conference in the law office of Mobilio Wood, Allentown, was originally scheduled for that day but was canceled.

The allegations by Mobilio and Koren stem from a staffing issue that closed the township tax office for two days straight last month. According to Koren, she could not accept payments and process them because she is not a member of the union.

Mobilio’s news release states that Koren has been obstructed from performing her job, a predicament that began when she instituted new policies in the tax office, he said. In addition, he has alleged that Koren’s “physical access to all township offices other than the tax office” has been restricted.

Koren said she would be consulting an attorney after the tax office’s two-day closing and has since hired Mobilio Wood to represent her.

“Mrs. Koren is an elected official,” Mobilio said in the news release. “She is in her position because the voters believed in and trusted her to responsibly and respectfully manage the office of the treasurer and tax collection. ... Mrs. Koren has a job to do, and we are going to make sure she can get that job done without interference.”

On Aug. 27, Whitehall Township issued a statement, noting it would not publicly comment on personnel matters.

“It is the township’s position that confidential information regarding employees should not be shared or discussed in public. Recently, allegations related to tax office employees, other township employees, the township administration and township board of commissioners were made on social media and to the press,” the statement read. “Rest assured, the township has taken all appropriate steps to address concerns regarding the tax office and will continue to support township employees and address all appropriately raised concerns.”

The letter was printed on official letterhead but was undated and unsigned.