Trustees absent at Dolton board meeting amid local troubles

During a recent monthly meeting in Dolton, Illinois, tensions escalated as four trustees failed to attend, prompting Mayor Tiffany Henyard to criticize their absence. She accused them of attempting to undermine her authority and suggested that the usual vocal critics of her administration were conspicuously absent from the meeting. This situation unfolded against the backdrop of a binding opinion from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, which claimed that the village was not making its meetings accessible to the public. Henyard is currently under scrutiny for her management of village finances, with a significant investigation led by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot revealing a troubling negative balance of $3.65 million in the Dolton Village General Fund. The financial mismanagement has raised serious concerns about the village's fiscal health and governance. Additionally, the FBI is conducting an investigation at Dolton Village Hall, although details regarding the specific individuals or issues under investigation remain unclear. The absence of the trustees at the meeting may reflect deeper divisions within the village's leadership and could indicate a growing rift in local governance. As the situation develops, Henyard will likely face increasing pressure to address both the financial issues and the governance challenges posed by the absent trustees. The ongoing investigations and public scrutiny may further complicate her efforts to stabilize the village's administration and restore public trust.