Thornton Township meetings cancelled as trustees boycott in protest of Supervisor Tiffany Henyard

Voicing concerns over agenda setting, spending and transparency with the public, Thornton Township trustees Carmen Carlisle and Chris Gonzalez boycotted the meeting. 

Without a quorum, the meeting was cancelled.

“Unfortunately, this meeting’s agenda has not been properly vetted and includes items that are likely to provoke unnecessary conflict rather than create solutions,” according to a news release by trustees Carlisle and Gonzalez. 

“We want to make clear that we’re here to serve Thornton Township residents by addressing real issues with transparency and accountability.” 

In October, trustee Gerald “Jerry” Jones resigned. Carlisle and Gonzalez took issue with the appointment of a new trustee to fill that vacancy. According to state law, the township has to fill the position within 60 days. If not, a special meeting must be called.

With no more than a week to fill the position and the board polarized, it’s increasingly likely that vacancy will remain throughout the calendar year.

The two trustees demand meetings be more “professional and constructive,” and have a more transparent review process for fund allocation and finalizing the selection of a new bank account.  

The township represents 17 municipalities. It’s entering its seventh month without budgets for its general, general assistance, and road funds, which were supposed to be approved by May 31. 

The stuffed agenda included opening of banking accounts, insurance proposals, and, according to Henyard, what would be a projected $2.2 million property tax rebate for homeowners.

Complaints of Henyard’s out-of-control spending, specifically the charge she’s used taxpayer dollars for personal expenses since her 2022 appointment, have launched the township into the national spotlight. Also on the agenda were bonuses for township employees. In addition to finance director Robert Hunt, the supervisor would also be added to new banking accounts as authorized signatories.

But by boycotting over spending and appointments, that also means Carlisle and Gonzalez are stalling the delivery of forensic audit—and Carlisle was a key figure in requesting it.

About 15 audience members were present, with Henyard’s allies in the front row. She spent time delivering a monologue about her work, also responding to the trustees’ press release.

“Everybody uses these words because it scares people: transparency, accountability,” Henyard said. “All those things have been done here in Thornton Township. We have crossed our ‘T’s,’ dotted our ‘I’s.’ For something you want to know, come and see about it.” She invited those with questions or concerns about the township and her administration to come to her “Township Talks” series, where she can address questions directly and decried the media and people “not from here” for taking her words out of context. “If you want the tea, come get it from me,” she said. 

LaTanga Williams-Gavin, a 25-year Markham resident, has been attending recent meetings to “see what’s going on” for herself. She is frustrated by the gridlock the township is experiencing due to the conflict between Henyard and the board members.

“I wish business could have been taken care of, because it delays so much that’s going on in the township,” Williams-Gavin said. “For those who are really in need of things here in Thornton Township: the senior services, Christmas gifts for kids and parents that can’t afford to buy those things for their kids, even the turkey giveaway.” 

This conflict is unlike anything she’s seen in Thornton Township, Williams-Gavins said. 

After the meeting, Henyard went to her Facebook Live for 50 minutes, where she criticized her trustees’ decision to boycott.

“You must show up to your scheduled board meetings,” Henyard said on her Facebook livestream. “I don’t care if you agree or disagree, but you must show up to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or vote ‘present,’” she said. “But show up because you were elected or appointed to do the will of the people, and that’s to show up and be a vote for the people.” 

Two weeks later, Henyard called a special meeting. 

Once again the trustees were absent. Without a quorum, Henyard again cancelled the meeting—not without another monologue—and words for Gonzalez. He was seen outside Thornton Township Hall giving an interview with FOX32 Chicago.

The next regularly scheduled board meeting is December 17.