Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard Defies Trustees, Holds Meeting Despite Postponement

Embattled Mayor Tiffany Henyard of Dolton, Illinois, has once again clashed with the village's board of trustees, holding a meeting that had been officially postponed. Henyard's actions have drawn criticism and raised questions about her authority.

Dolton, Illinois - Embattled Mayor Tiffany Henyard of Dolton has defied the village's board of trustees by holding a meeting that had been officially postponed. The move has further escalated tensions between the mayor and the board, which has accused Henyard of excessive spending and corruption.

Henyard, a Democrat, has been locked in a months-long feud with the board. On Tuesday, she proceeded with a regular board meeting despite a decision by the trustees to postpone it until September 12. The postponement was intended to address urgent matters such as finalizing the village budget, establishing a new bank account, and hiring a new auditor.

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard Defies Trustees, Holds Meeting Despite Postponement

However, Henyard's attorney, Beau Brindley, argued that the postponement violated Illinois law due to a lack of proper notice. He also claimed that the board's actions were interfering with Henyard's ability to perform her duties as mayor.

Undeterred, Henyard went ahead with the meeting even though she did not have a quorum. Only two trustees were present: Andrew Holmes and Stanley Brown. "As you can see, the Board of Trustees decided not to show up, nor did the clerk," Henyard said at the meeting, which was attended by about 20 members of the public.

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard Defies Trustees, Holds Meeting Despite Postponement

It is the latest in a series of public spats between the mayor and the board. Henyard has vetoed the board's request to launch a federal investigation into her alleged misuse of funds and also vetoed their hiring of former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who has been tasked with leading a special investigation into the mayor.

Lightfoot's preliminary report revealed that Dolton's general fund balance had plummeted from $5.61 million in 2022 to a deficit of $3.65 million by May 2024. The report also disclosed that Henyard had used the village credit card to make purchases at various retailers, including $33,000 on Amazon on a single day.

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard Defies Trustees, Holds Meeting Despite Postponement

Despite the allegations, Henyard declared at the meeting that she had "cleaned up" the town. "Research everybody, then you'll understand the fight, you’ll understand why things is the way it is, because when we took over, we came and cleaned up the Village of Dolton," she said.

Henyard also appointed a new village attorney and a village administrator at the meeting, despite the fact that one already holds the latter role. "She can't appoint one because Keith Freeman is still the village administrator," said Valeria Stubbs, a former village trustee. "All of that was illegal. Once she didn't have a quorum, the meeting should have been adjourned."

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard Defies Trustees, Holds Meeting Despite Postponement

The Illinois Attorney General's office has also issued a binding opinion that Dolton repeatedly violated the Open Meetings Act this summer. The opinion found that Henyard and the village board failed to make their June 3 and July 1 meetings "convenient and open to the public."

Henyard's accusations of financial misdeeds have prompted an ongoing FBI investigation. Her ally, former deputy chief of police Lewis A. Lacey, was also indicted earlier this month on bankruptcy fraud charges.

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard Defies Trustees, Holds Meeting Despite Postponement

In February, it was reported that the FBI was investigating Henyard after several people had spoken to the agency about her alleged misconduct. The FBI has served two federal subpoenas as part of an investigation, one seeking employment records for 25 village employees and the other targeting Keith Freeman's business connections.

Henyard's actions have drawn criticism from both the trustees and residents. They have accused her of abusing her power, ignoring the concerns of the village, and creating a pattern of chaos and division. The mayor's supporters, however, maintain that she is a strong leader who is being unfairly targeted by her political adversaries.

As the conflict continues, it remains unclear how the situation in Dolton will be resolved. The village faces serious financial and legal challenges, and the mayor's ongoing feud with the trustees is only complicating matters.