After a month of unpaid bills piling up, Thornton Township managed to successfully conduct some business during a special meeting Wednesday before Trustee Chris Gonzalez walked out due to what he called unsubstantiated grandstanding by Supervisor Tiffany Henyard.
The township continues to operate without a budget, with Henyard’s proposal listed repeatedly on meeting agendas failing to receive adequate support. But after the past two meetings were canceled due to disagreements over meeting location and safety protocols, the board approved bill payments and employee insurance updates.
“By (trustees) not paying bills, they have been hurting a lot of department heads, which are here today,” Henyard told attendees after the meeting. “Their board members have not shown up to take care of the business, which is up for vote every two weeks.”
Henyard said she planned to call department heads to provide testimony on how delayed bill payments affect township government operations, but was unable to when Gonzalez left after the board approved what he saw as the necessary business. Gonzalez said Thursday he requested the special meeting remain focused on the vital items only, which was not heeded.
“We just (wanted) basically a realistic agenda where we could get the business done that we need to get done, and then kind of take it from there,” Gonzalez said.
He said he had not received basic information about the other measures brought by Henyard, including a “100% tax refund for all homeowners” and bonuses for all township employees.
“It’s just politics — trying to get us to vote no on things while purposely not giving us information,” Gonzalez said. “So she can come back later and say, ‘They’re against the employees. They’re against kids.’ And all that good stuff.”
After Gonzalez’s departure, Henyard railed against the trustee, saying her proposed property tax refund would have put $2.2 million directly in residents’ pockets. A later item on the agenda was to open new bank accounts for the township, as Henyard confirmed the township was dropped by former bank BMO Harris due its reputation.
Henyard is under federal investigation regarding her role as mayor in Dolton and as supervisor in Thornton Township.
“It’s shameful that that individual wants to run for reelection, but will not sit in this seat to take care of the business of the people,” Henyard said. “This is the game that is being played with your tax dollars. These are people that you elected to sit here, but they will not stay and take care of business.”
The next Thornton Township meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19 at 333 East 162nd St. in South Holland.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
