Thornton Township meeting abruptly ends after trustee denied remote access
Illinois’ state transparency law allows elected officials to join meetings remotely if they have childcare conflicts. The supervisor didn’t agree.
A Thornton Township board meeting abruptly ended last Tuesday after trustee Stephanie Wiedeman was denied remote access.
Trustee Carmen Carlisle motioned to allow Stephanie Wiedeman to participate remotely, citing her childcare obligations.
“You cannot go via Zoom if you don’t have an illness; our meetings are in person, and everybody should be here to take care of business,” Supervisor Tiffany Henyard said in disagreement. It was the first meeting Henyard attended since she and others were involved in a melee at the township hall earlier this year.
A childcare conflict qualifies as a valid reason for virtual participation, in accordance with the state’s Open Meetings Act, attorney Tiffany Nelson-Jaworski said.
According to the OMA, “A majority of the public body may allow a member of that body to attend the meeting by other means if the member is prevented from physically attending because of: (i) personal illness or disability; (ii) employment purposes or the business of the public body; (iii) a family or other emergency; or (iv) unexpected childcare obligations. ‘Other means’ is by video or audio conference.”
While Henyard opposed the motion, trustees Carlisle and Christopher Gonzalez voted to allow Wiedeman to attend remotely. The motion failed with only two trustee votes. A majority of three votes was required. Trustee Darlene Gray Everett was absent.
Following the decision, Carlisle moved to adjourn the meeting, with Gonzalez seconding the motion. Clerk Loretta Wells did not call the roll for a vote, with Gonzalez and Carlisle ultimately walking out.
The meeting agenda included bills and budgets for the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, spanning the general fund, general assistance fund, and road and bridge fund. The township has been operating without a budgets since May 2024.
The agenda also featured a proposal for a 100 percent property tax refund for homeowners and bonuses for township employees. The board previously rejected the former and tabled the latter item.
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