Latest news with #Wiedeman
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tiffany Henyard skips final regular meeting during tenure as Thornton Township supervisor
Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard was absent from the last regularly scheduled board meeting before new leadership is sworn in Monday, while attending trustees exchanged heartfelt goodbyes with community members. The Township Board voted to settle a lawsuit with employee Kathryn Granberry and to spend $3,000 for an 'employee luncheon.' The board also paid bills with the exception of several reoccurring services Henyard previously pushed. Meeting attendees, including newly elected trustees Mary Avent and Valeria Stubbs who take office Monday, expressed gratitude for board members Chris Gonzalez, Carmen Carlisle and Stephanie Wiedeman for their leadership during Henyard's three-year tenure as supervisor. 'I'll be forever grateful for all three of you,' Stubbs said. 'You came in, you did what we needed you to do,' Avent said, addressing Wiedeman. 'For that we say thank you, although I know we'll see you again.' Wiedeman, who residents voted onto the board in January to replace Gerald Jones who resigned three months prior, shed tears as she and other board members received bouquets of flowers. Neither she nor Carlisle sought another term, while Gonzalez was reelected as part of the slate that includes state Sen. Napoleon Harris, who will replace Henyard next week as supervisor. Also honored were Highway Commissioner Gary DePue and Clerk Loretta Wells, who tended to stay mum during clashes between Henyard and trustees. Neither official sought reelection this year, with Antwon D. Russell and Casey A. Nesbit, respectively, succeed them. 'This is bittersweet,' Wells said, choking up while noting she has worked with the township for 40 years. 'It was tough. I had to stay neutral … I'm just wishing nothing but love to the next administration and the next clerk.' Trustee Darlene Gray Everett, who has frequently voted alongside Henyard despite other board members' opposition to her, was absent. Henyard was unable to secure a spot on the ballot despite seeking reelection after losing the Democratic nomination to Harris during a caucus in December. In the historically Democratic voting region, Harris received 75% of the vote for supervisor. Independent candidate Nate Fields trailed with 11% of the vote, followed by Republican Richard Nolan with 10% and Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark, who had withdrawn from the race, with 5%. Henyard, who until recently was also mayor of Dolton, lost her bid for reelection in the village as well. Jason House and members of his slate were sworn in earlier this month. The new Thornton Township Board will be sworn in during a ceremony scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday at the Tiwnship Hall, 333 E. 162nd St. Gonzalez announced a short meeting will take place ahead of the inauguration at 12:30 p.m. Trustees didn't mention Henyard be name, but alluded to their issues with her that ranged from name calling to general lack of communication surrounding policies and meeting structure. Federal investigators have at least twice before visited Dolton and Thornton Township in search of documents, including expense reimbursements and other payments made to Henyard. No charges have been filed. 'This hasn't been an easy journey, but when you rally together, there is strength in numbers,' Carlisle said during the meeting. 'I just want to say thank you to you all for all your kindness that you've shown during this time, and just all the love and support … I think it's so important for people to see what's going on in these small communities, because there are so many changes that are needed.' ostevens@
Chicago Tribune
14-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Tiffany Henyard skips final regular meeting during tenure as Thornton Township supervisor
Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard was absent from the last regularly scheduled board meeting before new leadership is sworn in Monday, while attending trustees exchanged heartfelt goodbyes with community members. The Township Board voted to settle a lawsuit with employee Kathryn Granberry and to spend $3,000 for an 'employee luncheon.' The board also paid bills with the exception of several reoccurring services Henyard previously pushed. Meeting attendees, including newly elected trustees Mary Avent and Valeria Stubbs who take office Monday, expressed gratitude for board members Chris Gonzalez, Carmen Carlisle and Stephanie Wiedeman for their leadership during Henyard's three-year tenure as supervisor. 'I'll be forever grateful for all three of you,' Stubbs said. 'You came in, you did what we needed you to do,' Avent said, addressing Wiedeman. 'For that we say thank you, although I know we'll see you again.' Wiedeman, who residents voted onto the board in January to replace Gerald Jones who resigned three months prior, shed tears as she and other board members received bouquets of flowers. Neither she nor Carlisle sought another term, while Gonzalez was reelected as part of the slate that includes state Sen. Napoleon Harris, who will replace Henyard next week as supervisor. Also honored were Highway Commissioner Gary DePue and Clerk Loretta Wells, who tended to stay mum during clashes between Henyard and trustees. Neither official sought reelection this year, with Antwon D. Russell and Casey A. Nesbit, respectively, succeed them. 'This is bittersweet,' Wells said, choking up while noting she has worked with the township for 40 years. 'It was tough. I had to stay neutral … I'm just wishing nothing but love to the next administration and the next clerk.' Trustee Darlene Gray Everett, who has frequently voted alongside Henyard despite other board members' opposition to her, was absent. Henyard was unable to secure a spot on the ballot despite seeking reelection after losing the Democratic nomination to Harris during a caucus in December. In the historically Democratic voting region, Harris received 75% of the vote for supervisor. Independent candidate Nate Fields trailed with 11% of the vote, followed by Republican Richard Nolan with 10% and Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark, who had withdrawn from the race, with 5%. Henyard, who until recently was also mayor of Dolton, lost her bid for reelection in the village as well. Jason House and members of his slate were sworn in earlier this month. The new Thornton Township Board will be sworn in during a ceremony scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday at the Tiwnship Hall, 333 E. 162nd St. Gonzalez announced a short meeting will take place ahead of the inauguration at 12:30 p.m. Trustees didn't mention Henyard be name, but alluded to their issues with her that ranged from name calling to general lack of communication surrounding policies and meeting structure. Federal investigators have at least twice before visited Dolton and Thornton Township in search of documents, including expense reimbursements and other payments made to Henyard. No charges have been filed. 'This hasn't been an easy journey, but when you rally together, there is strength in numbers,' Carlisle said during the meeting. 'I just want to say thank you to you all for all your kindness that you've shown during this time, and just all the love and support … I think it's so important for people to see what's going on in these small communities, because there are so many changes that are needed.'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trustees walk out of Thornton Township meeting following conflict with Supervisor Tiffany Henyard
Conflict over whether a trustee could participate remotely brought Tuesday's Thornton Township Board meeting to an abrupt end, with no action taken on approval of a budget and ethics related policy changes. Because only three board members were physically present, Trustees Chris Gonzalez and Carmen Carlisle needed Supervisor Tiffany Henyard's approval to bring Trustee Stephanie Wiedeman into the meeting via Zoom. Wiedeman was absent due to a 'child care conflict,' Carlisle said. 'You cannot go via Zoom if you do not have an illness or anything like that,' Henyard said before voting against Wiedeman's participation. 'Our meetings are in person and everybody should be here to take care of the business.' Township attorney Tiffany Nelson-Jaworski, who was on Zoom, said child care issues are among acceptable reasons for a board member to participate remotely. 'I do believe that she has a valid reason under the Open Meetings Act,' Nelson-Jaworski told the board. Tuesday's meeting was the first public meeting Henyard attended since losing her Democratic primary bid for reelection as mayor of Dolton. Henyard has not commented publicly on the Feb. 25 election, during which Dolton Trustee Jason House received 88% of the Democratic vote for mayor, beyond cryptic social media posts. 'Trust the process. Watch my comeback. Stay tuned,' Henyard wrote on Facebook on Feb. 27. 'Wait y'all thought I was finish — hell no.' Henyard is under federal investigation, with subpoenas delivered to Dolton Village Hall and Thornton Township offices last spring. Henyard is township supervisor and is running as a write-in candidate for a full term, after being blocked from being part of the Democratic caucus that chose state Sen. Napoleon Harris as its candidate. Henyard did not immediately immediately respond Wednesday to requests for comment from the Daily Southtown. On Tuesday's meeting agenda was the township budget proposal, which was tabled at the past two meetings. The board briefly discussed its 2025 budget proposal last month, revised from the budget repeatedly put forth by Henyard but never passed. Wiedeman said at the time the trustees' proposal put forth a balanced budget, which Henyard's proposal was not. The proposals for general fund, general assistance fund and road and bridge fund are available at The 2025 general fund proposal budgets $13.3 million in expenses, with $5.8 million going toward administration, $1.8 million toward the senior services department and $1.7 million toward the community outreach and engagement department. The 2024 general fund budget showed the township receiving $16 million in revenue and spending about $15 million over the course of the fiscal year. Other agenda items included policies aimed at holding township officials accountable. They include a 'whistleblower protection policy' as well as an ethics ordinance and policy. ostevens@
Chicago Tribune
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Trustees walk out of Thornton Township meeting following conflict with Supervisor Tiffany Henyard
Conflict over whether a trustee could participate remotely brought Tuesday's Thornton Township Board meeting to an abrupt end, with no action taken on approval of a budget and ethics related policy changes. Because only three board members were physically present, Trustees Chris Gonzalez and Carmen Carlisle needed Supervisor Tiffany Henyard's approval to bring Trustee Stephanie Wiedeman into the meeting via Zoom. Wiedeman was absent due to a 'child care conflict,' Carlisle said. 'You cannot go via Zoom if you do not have an illness or anything like that,' Henyard said before voting against Wiedeman's participation. 'Our meetings are in person and everybody should be here to take care of the business.' Township attorney Tiffany Nelson-Jaworski, who was on Zoom, said child care issues are among acceptable reasons for a board member to participate remotely. 'I do believe that she has a valid reason under the Open Meetings Act,' Nelson-Jaworski told the board. Tuesday's meeting was the first public meeting Henyard attended since losing her Democratic primary bid for reelection as mayor of Dolton. Henyard has not commented publicly on the Feb. 25 election, during which Dolton Trustee Jason House received 88% of the Democratic vote for mayor, beyond cryptic social media posts. 'Trust the process. Watch my comeback. Stay tuned,' Henyard wrote on Facebook on Feb. 27. 'Wait y'all thought I was finish — hell no.' Henyard is under federal investigation, with subpoenas delivered to Dolton Village Hall and Thornton Township offices last spring. Henyard is township supervisor and is running as a write-in candidate for a full term, after being blocked from being part of the Democratic caucus that chose state Sen. Napoleon Harris as its candidate. Henyard did not immediately immediately respond Wednesday to requests for comment from the Daily Southtown. On Tuesday's meeting agenda was the township budget proposal, which was tabled at the past two meetings. The board briefly discussed its 2025 budget proposal last month, revised from the budget repeatedly put forth by Henyard but never passed. Wiedeman said at the time the trustees' proposal put forth a balanced budget, which Henyard's proposal was not. The proposals for general fund, general assistance fund and road and bridge fund are available at The 2025 general fund proposal budgets $13.3 million in expenses, with $5.8 million going toward administration, $1.8 million toward the senior services department and $1.7 million toward the community outreach and engagement department. The 2024 general fund budget showed the township receiving $16 million in revenue and spending about $15 million over the course of the fiscal year. Other agenda items included policies aimed at holding township officials accountable. They include a 'whistleblower protection policy' as well as an ethics ordinance and policy.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Supervisor Tiffany Henyard absent from Thornton Township Board, trustees push back budget vote
Thornton Township trustees agreed to push back a vote on their 2025 budget proposal during a sparsely attended board meeting Tuesday night in South Holland. Supervisor Tiffany Henyard and Trustee Darlene Gray Everett were absent from the meeting that included on the agenda adopting the 2025 budgets for the general fund and general appropriation funds, paying township bills and approving upcoming events totaling almost $40,000. Henyard, who had two of her own initiatives on the agenda, has not been seen at the board table since she joined a brawl that during the township's meeting Jan. 28. Trustees Christopher Gonzalez, Carmen Carlisle and Stephanie Wiedeman voting together on all items, but decided to table their budget proposals for a second time, saying they needed to get more answers about Thornton Township finances. 'I'm hoping we could do something pretty soon, maybe, at the earliest, at the next meeting,' said Gonzalez, who was appointed pro tem supervisor in Henyard's absence. 'But there's still some fluid things that we're trying to figure out, get some more information.' Wiedeman said at the last meeting the trustees worked with Finance Director Robert Hunt to create a balanced budget, which Henyard's proposal was not. The proposals for general fund, general assistance fund and road and bridge fund are available at The 2025 general fund proposal budgets $13.3 million in spending, with $5.8 million going toward administration, $1.8 million to the senior services department and $1.7 million for the community outreach and engagement department. The 2024 general fund budget showed the township received $16 million in revenue and spent about $15 million over the fiscal year. The board also voted Tuesday to table approval of events, including a 'country and western shindig' and a Valentines Day dance planned for this week, as well as explicitly denying funding for a proposed Valentines luncheon for seniors and township employees totaling $5,000. Wiedeman said she chose not to vote on the events in part due to the board not approving the year's budget. 'I just would feel more comfortable if there was some more discussion around the events and the budgeting,' Wiedeman said. 'I'm still trying to get a grasp on what's happening financially.' To ensure safety, the 10 or so people who came to the Township Hall were seated downstairs, with the board and members of the media in the upstairs meeting room. However, those who wished to speak were brought up to face the board during public comment. Jennifer Robertz, of Lansing, called out Henyard for contributing to an unsafe atmosphere at the township by jumping into the brawl that broke out after community activist Jedidiah Brown called Henyard an expletive during public comment. She said as the township's leader, she is setting a poor example for residents and those who might look to her for guidance. 'We were here to witness the mayhem in real time,' Robertz said. 'While I understand that words may hurt, violence is never the answer. Instead of learning from her mistakes and setting the example that young Black and brown people really need, she would rather show them that if they want something so badly they should do what she does, which is fight, steal and lie.' ostevens@
