Extra drama in Dolton.
Embattled “supermayor” Tiffany Henyard prolonged her ongoing feud with the Village of Dolton’s board of trustees Tuesday when she proceeded with a board assembly regardless of it being postponed by trustees, Fox 32 Chicago reviews.
Henyard, a Democrat, has been at loggerheads with the board for months within the wake of allegations of extreme spending and corruption, however declared on the assembly that her administration had “cleaned up” the suburban Illinois city regardless of a report that its funds had plunged into the purple.
She additionally appointed new village staffers on the assembly, though the appointments are doubtless not legitimate.
POLICE ALLY OF SCANDAL-RIDDEN MAYOR TIFFANY HENYARD INDICTED ON BANKRUPTCY FRAUD CHARGES
Mayor Tiffany Henyard on the Tuesday assembly. (Fox 32)
The trustees’ determined to postpone Tuesday’s common board assembly till Sept. 12 with the intention to deal with “several urgent matters,” together with finalizing the village funds, establishing a brand new checking account, and hiring a brand new auditor, a spokesperson for the trustees advised Fox 32.
However Henyard’s lawyer, Beau Brindley, argued the postponement violated Illinois legislation resulting from a scarcity of correct discover. He additionally mentioned that he believes the board’s actions are interfering with Henyard’s capability to carry out her duties as mayor.
The mayor went forward with the assembly despite the fact that she didn’t have a quorum as solely two trustees have been current, Andrew Holmes and Stanley Brown.
“As you can see, the Board of Trustees decided not to show up, nor did the clerk,” Henyard mentioned on the assembly which was attended by about 20 members of the general public.
It’s the newest in a collection 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 likewise vetoed their hiring of former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who has been tasked with main a particular investigation into the mayor.
In Could, the board appointed a mayor professional tempore to serve instead of Henyard ought to she refuse to execute her duties.
Lightfoot’s investigation into the city’s monetary state of affairs revealed in a preliminary report that Dolton’s normal fund stability was $5.61 million in 2022, however by Could 2024 the stability had dropped to a deficit of $3.65 million.
Fox Information Digital reached out to Henyard’s workplace for remark relating to the figures, and for an announcement as to why she proceeded with Tuesday’s assembly, however didn’t instantly obtain a response.
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard. (Getty Photographs/Village of Dolton)
Lightfoot additionally disclosed that Henyard used the village bank card to make purchases at Amazon, Goal, Walgreens, Wayfair and different retailers. One jaw-dropping assertion revealed that the embattled mayor had dropped $33,000 on Jan. 5, 2023, on Amazon.
Regardless of the intense allegations being leveled towards her, Henyard declared Tuesday that she has cleaned up the city.
“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,” Henyard mentioned.
“What I mean by that is, when we got a complaint, I told them, please make sure you take care of the residents.”
Henyard mentioned she has “receipts” and advised residents to remain tuned, saying that she is going to quickly be holding a State of the Village deal with.
The mayor additionally appointed a brand new village lawyer and a village administrator Tuesday – regardless of one already holding the latter function.
“She can’t appoint one because Keith Freeman is still the village administrator,” mentioned Valeria Stubbs, a former village trustee, in response to Fox 32. “All of that was illegal. Once she didn’t have a quorum, the meeting should have been adjourned.”
The conflict over Tuesday’s assembly got here on the identical day Illinois Legal professional Common Kwame Raoul issued a binding opinion that Dolton repeatedly violated the Open Conferences Act this summer season.
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard faces allegations of misusing public funds.
He discovered that Henyard and the village board did not make its June 3 and July 1 conferences “convenient and open to the public.” He ordered Dolton to make all future conferences handy and open to the general public, together with guaranteeing there may be sufficient area and never closing streets or placing up parking barricades.
Henyard’s accusations of monetary misdeeds have prompted an ongoing FBI investigation.
Moreover, Lewis A. Lacey, the previous deputy chief of police of Dolton and an ally of Henyard, was indicted earlier this month by a federal grand jury on chapter fraud fees and is accused of concealing belongings and revenue to keep away from paying collectors and settling a lawsuit.
In February, it was reported that the FBI was investigating Henyard after six individuals had reportedly spoken to the company about her alleged misconduct, together with “business owners, a former village employee and one or more public officials.”
In April, the FBI served two federal subpoenas as a part of an investigation. Henyard was not served.
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Tiffany Henyard in outfits professionally styled by a style skilled. (stylemebrandon | Instagram/screenshot)
The primary one was for employment data, personnel recordsdata and disciplinary reviews for 25 Dolton staff, together with three cops and Keith Freeman, who’s the village administrator and Henyard’s prime aide. Freeman was charged with chapter fraud.
The second subpoena was served particularly on Freeman, asking for data of all firms related to him and doable ties to the village.
Fox Information’ Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
