Henyard skips Dolton meeting; activist Jedidiah Brown apologizes for role in Thornton Twp. brawl

DOLTON, Ill. (WLS) -- Mayor Tiffany Henyard did not attend Monday night's Dolton board meeting.

She was also a no-show at last month's regular board meeting, citing safety concerns, and last week, she said she would not attend this meeting unless security changes were made.

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As a result of Henyard's absence Monday night, trustees tabled her effort to appoint a new village attorney and police chief.

This gathering was the first since a fight broke out during Tuesday's Thornton Township Board of Trustees meeting in South Holland.

Henyard is also the township supervisor, and she was in the middle of that melee, which began after someone called her an expletive during public comment.

The fight also involved Henyard's boyfriend, who clashed with activist Jedidiah Brown.

READ MORE | Tiffany Henyard issues statement after video shows her in brawl at Thornton Township meeting

At Monday night's meeting, Brown, wearing a camera on his chest, apologized for his role in the fight.

"I want to apologize to every elder and every parent who that pricked in a negative way," Brown said.

Police used hand held metal detectors at the entrance. Though, many arrived before security was in place.

This was also the first meeting since former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a scathing report, alleging a pattern of mismanagement and deception by Henyard.

Lightfoot says Henyard kept Dolton trustees in the dark about large expenditures, including for travel, meals at local restaurants and various retail purchases.

"It was very sad to see the numbers that popped up on that screen of our tax dollars being spent inappropriately," said Dolton Trustee Kiana Belcher.

But speaking exclusively with ABC7 on Friday, Henyard said she is being blamed for the actions of others.

"I don't deal with finances. I've said that several times. I do not, will not, and I think you've saw a lot of different meetings where I don't take credit cards when they try to give me a credit card. I don't deal with finances. We have finance directors for that. We have accountants slash CPAs for that. They're the ones dealing with my day-to-day operations as it deals with money," Henyard said.

Trustees tabled Henyard's agenda items to appoint a new village attorney and police chief. The trustees said they received nothing on the candidates.

"No application materials, nothing about their credentials, so we got as much information as the news did," said Dolton Trustee Jason House.

It was also learned at the meeting that the village's life insurance policy for employees has not been paid since August 2024. The village is now working to find a new insurer.