Censures a no-go: City Council tables resolutions to reprimand alderpersons and treasurer

Two alderpersons and the city treasurer narrowly escaped being censured by their City Council colleagues last month.

The City Council tabled resolutions to symbolically reprimand Alderwoman Colby Chapman (2nd), Alderman Tracy Key (4th), and city treasurer Aisha Pickett at the March 25 meeting.

Standing with his head hanging low, barely looking up, Mayor Chris Clark motioned to table the resolutions—ones he introduced—to censure each of them for a range of issues, including allegations they used their office for political purposes. Tabled items are removed from active consideration until a Councilperson makes a subsequent motion to “take from the table.”

Ahead of the March 19 primary, Chapman, Key, and Pickett organized a ward meeting at City Hall that was also attended by multiple Cook County judicial candidates. 

“They accused us of having a political rally, but if you look at the flier, which I gave to the Clerk, there was nothing about the judges. They were just allowed to come,” Pickett said. “That meeting was centered around financial literacy. That’s why they included me.”

Key was also accused of misleading the public about city business during a Council meeting. Chapman was to be censured for being ill-prepared during meetings, speaking out against a controversial stormwater project on 153rd St. and Myrtle Ave. that may displace longtime families, and for appearing in a local dance video.

In June 2023, Legacy School of Performing Arts curated a dance film and hired Chicago-based production companies to assist with its direction and production. In one scene, a dancer climbed atop the vehicle—unauthorized to do so. That became the key basis for Chapman’s possible censure.

“We remain a beacon for youth. We remain a beacon for seniors in the community, and it’s really heart-breaking to be labeled as a detriment to the society of Harvey,” said Pagan McClure, artistic director of the Legacy School of the Performing Arts about the group’s work. “What is our crime?” 

In February, Police Chief Cameron Biddings and Clark tapped one of Clark’s colleagues in Calumet City to investigate Chapman. Special prosecutor Patrick Walsh later produced a report falsely claiming Chapman directed and produced Legacy’s film, authorized the use of the command vehicle, and recommended she be censured.

Key and Pickett, Chapman’s allies, were later thrown in the crossfire.

Council chambers were ill-prepared for the influx of attendees, the meeting almost cancelled for overcrowding. The room’s official capacity, as confirmed by the fire chief, stood at 202 people. The meeting was temporarily halted to accommodate additional chairs. Harvey auxiliary officers wanded attendees prior to entry into chambers—an uncommon practice.

Alderwoman Shirley Drewenski (1st), named Mayor Pro Tem in June 2023, presided over public comment, now at the top of the meetings. Previously, the Council discussed city business, followed by public comment before adjournment. Mayor Clark presided over all affairs. Following a crisis where a private company erroneously boarded up residents in their apartment units on Halsted St., the city changed the meeting order.

Mayor Pro Tem is reserved for times in which the mayor is incapable of performing their official duties, such as in case of emergency, according to the Illinois Municipal Code. For five meetings straight, Clark has sat in his office during public comment while Drewenski presides as Mayor Pro Tem. It’s unclear if the city’s actions qualify as an OMA violation. 

During public comment, critics charged that the efforts to censure the three were misplaced. Instead, the mayor and his aldermanic allies should be on the receiving end of reprimand, they said, for things like arriving late to meetings, openly laughing at residents who complain about lack of transparency about Harvey’s finances, and blocking Pickett from delivering her required monthly treasurer’s report.

Former planning commission member and outspoken critic Ryan Sinwelski dubbed the mayor’s allies “alderYESmen.” Others, like Carlita Poole-Tingle, a resident being displaced from Myrtle Ave., complained about the mayor’s absence.

Drewenski attempted to mediate and calm attendees by explaining the key issue: the censures. 

“Censorship is saying that the behavior was not approved,” Drewenski said. “If you used political funds, meaning city buildings, city finances or any to conduct a political event, that is wrong. You cannot use your tax dollars, if that happened, they were wrong.”

Later, Mayor Clark entered chambers to preside over city business, where he motioned to table the censure resolutions.

The Council also approved ordinances ratifying the demolition services for several dilapidated properties citywide, a settlement agreement with liquor licensees, and an agreement to install fleet-tracking solutions on 28 city vehicles.