DOLTON, Ill. (WGN) — Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard showed up an hour late to Monday’s village board meeting, only to say she vetoed everything the board already voted on, and leave minutes later.
“I just want to come here and lay the law down as it relates to what’s going on in our village, where we are, and where we’re going,” Henyard said.
According to the Village of Dolton’s attorney, Burt Odelson, Henyard’s veto isn’t possible because her motion wasn’t explicitly written before she left.
The meeting was moved to the local park district facilities after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s Office found Dolton had violated the state’s Open Meetings Act on several occasions by not providing adequate access at previous meetings.
Outside of Henyard’s brief appearance, Village trustees voted to address Dolton’s deficit, which is estimated at $2.8 million this year.
The village board of trustees approved steps to stop several high-profile vehicle leases, and to see the village-owned fitness center.
“We have to be able to use what we have, whether it be collateral or anything [else], to save you guys,” said village trustee Kiana Belcher. “So, we’re not saving us. We’re saving the community because we don’t want to impose additional taxes for the negligence that has happened over the last three-and-a-half years.”