Two Thornton Township trustees called a special meeting in Dolton Friday afternoon to approve bill payments and other financial business after two months of canceled meetings. However, a split board meant only some matters were resolved.
Supervisor Tiffany Henyard posted a statement to residents on social media beforehand saying Trustees Chris Gonzalez and Carmen Carlisle forced the township to “suspend operations” by not showing up to meetings since Oct. 30, leaving the township without insurance.
She did not say which township services were unavailable to residents or for how long, but the Township Hall in South Holland was closed to staff and residents as of Friday afternoon, with the special meeting held at Lester Long Fieldhouse.
Gonzalez and Carlisle have refused to attend multiple meetings since the resignation of former Trustee Gerald Jones, saying Henyard is trying to push measures without providing them basic information as well as force the appointment of an interim trustee that will vote similarly to her.
They called Friday’s special meeting with the hope of approving bills and tax levies for the coming year, Gonzalez said, but several times found themselves at a standstill with Henyard and Trustee Darlene Gray Everett opposing their measures.
“It’s just kind of smoke and mirrors and trying to blame us,” Gonzalez said.
Henyard bashed Gonzalez and Carlisle for trying to amend the bill list her office put forth for payment, with the trustees citing a lack of information about the spending. Both Henyard and Gray Everett voted against the amended motions, so no bills were paid.
“I do not come to board meetings to play games,” Henyard said. “If you did work for us, if you did anything for Thornton Township, we are here today to pay all the bills.”
Henyard and Gray Everett also voted no on a tax levy ordinance, which the township is required to approve by Dec. 31 in order to levy general fund taxes for 2025, a township attorney said. Henyard said the tax levy could not be passed without a budget in place, which the board has been unable to approve.
“I will not be a part of you passing a tax levy the wrong way,” Henyard said.
The board was able levy taxes for the road and bridge fund.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
