Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark has reinforced decorum measures at City Council meetings, facing pushback amid heightened tensions following the arrest of 2nd Ward Ald. Colby Chapman for allegedly assaulting city administrator Corean Davis.
While some residents express concerns over police presence and restrictions on discussion at council meetings, Clark insists maintaining order is essential for effective governance.
At the most recent council meeting Sept. 9, several residents raised concerns about what they believe was an increased police presence, noting about 10 officers were stationed inside the council chambers.
“That is very intimidating to have officers actually surround people as they give their speeches,” said the Rev. Johnathan Johnson, a pastor at the Holy Bible Missionary Baptist Church in Harvey, who has been a vocal critic of a city ordinance requiring churches to obtain business licenses.
“The intimidation tactics of having 10 officers in a room with unarmed citizens is something that is very much so, something that needs to be revisited,” he said.
First Ward Ald. Shirley Drewenski said she believes the added police presence is for everyone’s safety and to keep control of public meetings in light of recent tensions.
Clark claimed he was unaware of any increased police presence at the last City Council meeting. However, he said officers evaluate the community and decide if extra protection is necessary.
After the meeting, the public was asked to exit first, followed by council members, who were escorted to their cars. Harvey police blocked the City Hall entrance and used sirens to disperse any remaining attendees from the parking lot.
At the Sept. 9 meeting, Chapman, who often raises questions at council meetings, was asked to address her inquiries at the Finance Committee meeting. Chapman’s questions came before the council voted to approve bills for payment from Aug. 26.
“This is not a question and answer. This is just a debate on whether you want to support the motion or not,” Clark told Chapman.
Clark said council members should ask questions before the council meeting, because they have a week to review the packet and prepare for their motions. Questions specific to the bills list or other agenda items are difficult to answer on the spot because the information is not readily available, the mayor said.
“When people decide that they want to disrupt the meetings, including an alderperson who doesn’t want to follow the rules, then things get out of hand,” he said.
Drewenski echoed Clark’s comments, saying it helps prevent drawn-out city meetings.
Chapman said the decision to limit questions about agenda items stems from a February ruling that restricts discussion and only allows for “debate” on these items before a vote.
“When you’re forbidden from asking basic questions, then we’re not doing our jobs effectively as legislators,” said Chapman, who disagrees with Clark’s ruling and has been removed from City Council meetings for not following the decorum standards.
Chapman is to appear in court Oct. 8 on assault charges for the alleged assault on Davis, though the Police Department has redacted most information in its report and no charges appear on the Cook County court website.
Davis filed for an order of protection against Chapman Aug. 22 signed by Clark that alleges Chapman assaulted and physically threatened to beat Davis, according to court records.
“Davis works daily at the Harvey City Hall and is fearful that Alderwoman Colby Chapman will attack her,” the petition reads.
Clark maintains he continues to try to make it easier for council members to address their questions before council meetings, and plans to distribute the meeting packet and agenda even earlier.
Before February, Clark said agendas were posted the Friday before City Council meetings. He has since changed this process to provide council members with the agenda and packet a week in advance, allowing time for questions before voting.
“That’s the reason why we started this process, because we want to not be in a situation where we’re spending four hours in a meeting asking questions that could have been asked during the week,” Clark said.
Clark has also read a written statement since June at council meetings saying clapping, hissing, booing, cheering, shouting or other forms of conduct that is “considered disruptive” is prohibited.
“Public Comment is a very important part of the meeting. However, it must be conducted in a certain manner. Shouting is prohibited. Personal attacks which cause disruption are also prohibited,” reads a portion of the statement addressing disruptive behavior.
At a July 8 meeting, residents clapped during public comment, prompting a warning from Clark. After the applause continued, he ordered the police to remove the audience from the council chamber for disruptive behavior, according to a video shared by attendees.
The early recess prompted Harvey resident Ryan Sinwelski, a vocal critic of Clark’s administration, to request a formal review with the Illinois attorney general alleging the city violated the Open Meetings Act when clearing the council chambers and requesting silence from attendees.
In a response letter sent to the attorney general’s office regarding Sinwelski’s allegations, Keri-Lyn Krafthefer from Ancel Glink, the law firm representing Harvey in legal matters, defends Clark’s efforts to maintain a level of decorum at the city’s “business meeting.”
Krafthefer wrote it is difficult for council members to conduct city business when members of the public “are cheering and booing and treating the City Council meetings like a wrestling match or spectator sport.”
After Clark cleared the council chambers at the Aug. 26 meeting — held during an excessive heat warning — Sinwelski filed a second complaint with the Illinois attorney general, alleging the city violated the Open Meetings Act by voting on two settlement agreements without public presence and with two aldermen absent.
Sinwelski said Chapman was escorted out shortly before the public, and 4th Ward Ald. Tracy Key then left in protest of Chapman’s removal.
Sinwelski claims members of the public were not let back in, and only those signed up for public comment were allowed to enter to give their statements.
Clark said he cannot comment on the second complaint because the city is in the process of filing a response with the attorney general’s office. However, he said he stands by the city’s response to the first complaint.
In 2023, the city was found in violation of the Open Meetings Act after requiring members of the public show proof of Harvey residency to attend a gathering Sept. 7, 2023, to discuss a stormwater management project, according to a copy of the determination issued by the attorney general’s office.
Krafthefer’s response on behalf of the city indicates Chapman does not follow the city’s procedural rules during council meetings and asks questions that should be addressed at committee meetings.
The response states that Chapman speaks at meetings without following the rules, without being recognized by Mayor Clark and ignores his decisions that her comments are out of order, then argues with him about it.
“When she behaves in that manner, her political supporters in the audience, including Mr. Sinwelski, cheer her on, which at times creates a circus-like environment at what is supposed to be the City’s business meeting,” the letter reads.
Drewenski said public questions about city business should be addressed openly but noted council meetings are primarily for conducting business. Answering every question about the bills list could extend meetings and hinder officials’ ability to respond effectively, she said.
In his opinion, Clark said “the issue is not that they don’t have a valid question. The issue is that they are choosing the wrong forum in which to ask it.”
He encourages residents to share their questions or concerns with their elected alderperson, who should then contact his office for answers.
Chapman said she has tried to address her questions at other committee meetings, but feels the responses she received were inadequate.
At council meetings, Clark asserts that as chair, he is responsible for maintaining order and decorum to ensure meetings run efficiently.
“This is why you have to have order to the meeting, because things get out of control. I will be the first to admit they get out of control and out of hand when people are not complying with the general order of meetings,” he said.
For any questions or concerns about city business, Clark said he invites residents to meet with him from noon to 3 p.m. on Fridays or to schedule an appointment with his office if that time is inconvenient.
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