Chicago/ Politics & Govt
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Published on October 08, 2024
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard Faces Opposition at Board Meeting Amidst Legal Disputes and Federal InvestigationSource: Google Street View

In a recent turn of events, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard made an unexpected appearance at a board meeting, but the scene didn't play out in her favor. Henyard, who has been embroiled in controversy and legal disputes, attended the meeting after her attempt to convene a separate board meeting at Village Hall fell through due to a lack of quorum, as reported by NBC Chicago.

The official reason given for holding the separate meeting was a capacity constraint at the Village Hall, which is unable to legally accommodate the larger gatherings usually seen at the board meetings. A fieldhouse became the alternative venue. "As you can see, the board did not show up, and these are the things residents are tired of. They are tired of these types of games,” Henyard stated. However, the actual meeting at the park district’s building was in full swing, and Henyard's entrance was met with a chorus of boos, leading to her removal from the venue as detailed by ABC 7 Chicago.

The drama unfolded against the backdrop of a Cook County Circuit Court's recent decision, which sided with four trustees who are at odds with Henyard. The court blocked her appointments to three key village positions, agreeing with the trustees' contention that the appointments of Ronnie Burge Sr., Angela Lockett, and Michael Smith were illegal as they were made without the village board's vote. “Those three were never presented to the board,” Trustee Jason House told NBC Chicago. As a result, Henyard's appointees remain unable to assume their posts.

Adding to the complexities of Henyard's position is an ongoing federal grand jury investigation that began in November 2023, where federal investigators have requested financial records and other documents. This speaks to a pattern of scrutiny that has followed Henyard in both her roles as mayor and supervisor of Thornton Township. Trustees continued their business after Henyard was booed from the room, further escalating tensions within Dolton's local governance.