Dolton Mayor Creates More Chaos, Files Lawsuit Against Trustees, Park District Over Disputed Meeting

Tiffany Henyard's legal battle over Village meeting location sparks more tension in Dolton

Dolton Trustees hold monthly meeting in Park District to comply with IL Attorney General's instructions to improve accessibility for publicPhoto byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

DOLTON, IL In a significant legal move, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, alongside trustees Stanley Brown and Andrew Holmes, has filed a lawsuit targeting several village trustees, the village administrator, and the Dolton Park District. The lawsuit stems from a highly controversial village board meeting held on October 7, which has caused a rift in local leadership and ignited confusion over the rightful location of future public meetings.

The lawsuit highlights an opinion issued by the Illinois Attorney General on September 3, directing Dolton officials to ensure greater accessibility for public meetings. The directive recommended larger meeting spaces and a reduction in unnecessary security measures to accommodate the public more effectively. In response, Mayor Henyard says she took steps to follow these guidelines and prepare Village Hall for the upcoming October 7 meeting.

However, the lawsuit claims that despite the mayor’s efforts, an alternative agenda—allegedly organized by several trustees—was posted, calling for a separate meeting to be held at the Dolton Park District’s Lester Long Building. This parallel agenda, reportedly signed by trustees Tammie Brown, Brittney Norwood, and Kiana Belcher, created confusion and led to a split in leadership over where the official meeting should take place.

When Mayor Henyard and other officials arrived at Village Hall on October 7, they reportedly found themselves without the necessary quorum to proceed, as several trustees and the village clerk were absent. Henyard informed the public that the meeting would need to be canceled due to the lack of attendance by key village leaders.

Shortly after, Henyard was notified that the trustees who had signed the alternate agenda were conducting their own meeting at the Dolton Park District. At that meeting, trustee Jason House reportedly presided as "mayor pro tem," and several village decisions were made, including voting on and passing ordinances.

Upon arriving at the park district meeting, Henyard attempted to assert her authority and preside over the gathering. However, she was reportedly met with jeers and hostility, with the defendants allegedly continuing to conduct business despite her objections.

The lawsuit, filed by Henyard and trustees Brown and Holmes, accuses the trustees involved of overstepping their authority and undermining the governance of Dolton. The suit seeks a court ruling that would establish Village Hall as the official location for all future public meetings, effectively barring any further gatherings from taking place at the Dolton Park District. Additionally, the lawsuit calls for the invalidation of any decisions made during the October 7 park district meeting.

In a statement included in the lawsuit, Henyard emphasized the need for clarity and lawful governance in the village’s operations, particularly in how public meetings are conducted. The lawsuit, therefore, aims to prevent further disruption in village leadership and restore order to the board’s meeting process.

As of now, the defendants named in the lawsuit, including trustees Tammie Brown, Brittney Norwood, Kiana Belcher, and Village Administrator Keith Freeman, have not responded to requests for comment. The Dolton Park District, which has also been named in the lawsuit, has similarly remained silent on the matter.

The next steps in the legal proceedings will determine whether Mayor Henyard’s claims are upheld and if the court will intervene to resolve the leadership conflict that has embroiled the village of Dolton.