Dolton trustees call for outside probe of Mayor Tiffany Henyard, accuse her of misusing village funds

Some Dolton trustees are calling for an outside investigation into Mayor Tiffany Henyard, accusing her of misusing village funds and causing Dolton to be in a multimillion-dollar deficit.

They are asking agencies such as the FBI, U.S. attorney, Cook County sheriff and Cook County state’s attorney step in and investigate Henyard.

Four trustees who are at odds with Henyard — Kiana Belcher, Tammie Brown, Jason House and Brittney Norwood — held a special Village Board meeting Tuesday at a village park district facility. Village Clerk Alison Key also participated.

A crowd of some 100 residents stood and applauded after the resolution calling for the investigation was approved.

“We are taking this stand on the backs of 21,000 people that are being affected by this,” Belcher said following the vote.

Some trustees said the action was needed to save Dolton, and House described it as “a last stand.”

“This was not a measure taken lightly. This is and was a last resort,” House said. “It was something that has been thought through thoroughly.”

The next Village Board meeting is March 4, and it is possible Henyard will override the resolution. If that is the case, House said, the four trustees would vote to override her veto.

The action by the trustees comes after a law enforcement source confirmed this week that federal authorities, including the FBI, are in the early stages of an investigation into Henyard.

No charges have been brought against the mayor, and the probe has included interviews by investigators both inside and outside of Dolton.

The resolution adopted by the board alleges that Henyard has made payments to vendors that have not been approved by the Village Board, and that the mayor has refused to pay vendor invoices that have been approved by the board.

The trustees said they are contacted frequently by vendors awaiting payments that had been approved weeks or even months earlier by the board.

The resolution also alleges the mayor forged the village clerk’s stamp on payments without the clerk’s authorization.

The four trustees have previously called special meetings to handle business, such as approving Village Board meeting minutes, because Henyard has blocked them from being taken up at regular meetings.

Henyard did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, nor did two other trustees who are her allies on the board.

House noted all village officials had been notified in advance of the special meeting and an agenda was posted Monday evening.

The special meetings have been held at park district facilities because the four trustees don’t have keys to village hall, and at Tuesday’s meeting they directed Keith Freeman, the village administrator, to issue them keys.

“There is no way we should continue to come to the parks,” Belcher said.

Norwood said in one instance when trustees were denied access to Village Hall, the trustees set up a table and chairs in the parking lot.

She said she and the other trustees are simply trying to gain access to “the building that belongs to the residents.”

“This is our attempt to fight for what’s right,” Norwood said.

Trustees also approved a measure directing the Del Galdo Law Group to turn over files on pending litigation to the firm Odelson, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath, which has been serving as legislative counsel to the Village Board.

Del Galdo was appointed village prosecutor, handling matters such as prosecuting traffic tickets and ordinance violations, but represented Dolton in litigation in state and federal court, trustees said, adding they have not received regular updates on pending lawsuits.

Burt Odelson, a partner with the firm, said there are at least 33 cases against the village pending in court.

He and partners Felicia Frazier and Michael McGrath attended the meeting, and Odelson said they were not charging trustees for their appearances.

“Dolton isn’t getting the representation it should,” Odelson said.

John Murphey, a partner with the firm, was Dolton’s municipal attorney for many years under former Mayor Riley Rogers, but was dismissed after Henyard took office, Odelson said.