SOUTH HOLLAND, Illinois (CBS) – Tuesday night should be an opportunity for the embattled Supervisor Tiffany Henyards first time back as chief of Thornton Township since her failed attempt to get on the re-election ballot.
But the meeting never got going. It was called off for lack of a quorum, as two administrators stayed away for the purpose of making that happen – and not for the first time.
“You need to contact your administrators because they are not doing their job,” Henyard said. “They are neglecting their duty as elected officials, which is to show up at board meetings – let alone one board meeting during the holidays.
Thornton Township Trustees Christopher Gonzalez and Carmen Carlisle have made every effort to stop Henyard’s plans for the municipality. The trustees have raised security concerns about meetings getting out of hand, complained that Henyard has not answered their questions about the spending of the township’s funds and are trying to prevent Henyard from appointing someone to replace Trustee Jerry Jones – who suddenly resigned in October.
With Gonzalez and Carlisle not present, quorum for Thornton Township Board meetings has been denied several times.
However, although no meeting took place, Henyard took the opportunity to explain her position, as she has done on previous occasions.
“Lawyers have told us several times that we would not be able to continue operating because we have no insurance,” Henyard said.
Henyard said that because the county continues to operate without insurance coverage, residents could face fewer services or even a closure — although she did not provide a timeline.
The meeting on Tuesday evening was tense, with shouting before, during the meeting and after.
Some residents showed up for the absent Gonzalez and Carlisle.
“I have been following the activity that has been happening here over the past year, and I am very concerned,” said Beth McBride, a resident of Dolton and Thornton Township.
Henyard continues to face criticism for her spending as township supervisor and individually as mAyor van Dolton.
“We have a budget, we have the money, we have everything,” Henyard said at the meeting. “Please stop.”
Tuesday night’s meeting was the Thornton Township Board’s final meeting of 2024 – and also the seventh the board has canceled this year due to lack of quorum.
