In a significant development, a Cook County judge has issued an order prohibiting Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard from making appointments without the approval of the village board of trustees. This ruling, handed down on Wednesday, includes both an injunction and a restraining order, effectively blocking Henyard's recent appointments of a new village manager, village attorney, and police chief.
The judge's decision follows a contentious period in Dolton, where Henyard had made several key appointments without the necessary consent from the village trustees. At a recent board meeting, which Henyard did not attend, the trustees made it clear that they had not approved the firing of the current village manager, Keith Freeman, or the appointment of his replacement.
Financial Investigations and Controversies
Mayor Henyard is currently under investigation for her handling of village finances. Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was hired as a special investigator, revealed that the Dolton Village General Fund had a negative balance of $3.65 million. Lightfoot's investigation also uncovered questionable expenditures, including $40,000 spent on Amazon purchases in a single day, which remain unaccounted for. Additionally, there were allegations of self-promoting taxpayer-funded billboards, ads, and lavish dinners and trips.
The FBI is also conducting an investigation at Dolton Village Hall, although the specifics of who is being investigated have not been disclosed. Henyard is required to cooperate with the FBI if and when they request information about the village finances.
Impact on Village Governance
The judge's order has left the village in a state of uncertainty regarding its leadership. With the appointments of the new village manager, village attorney, and police chief blocked, the village trustees are now responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of Dolton. According to David Greising, president and CEO of the Better Government Association, 'The trustees, when they can get a quorum, are the ones running Dolton.'
Greising described the situation as a 'slow-moving train wreck for months,' highlighting the deep-seated governance issues in Dolton. He emphasized that the financial troubles caused by Henyard's actions will have long-lasting impacts on the residents of Dolton.
