Thornton Township trustees boycott meeting with Tiffany Henyard, citing transparency concerns

THORNTON TOWNSHIP, Ill. - Thornton Township’s board meeting on Tuesday ended prematurely when two trustees boycotted the session, halting all decision-making, including the appointment of a new trustee.

The absence of Chris Gonzalez and Carmen Carlisle left the board without a quorum, rendering it unable to address agenda items, including filling the vacancy left by Jerry Jones, who resigned for personal and health reasons.

Gonzalez and Carlisle said their decision to skip the meeting was driven by frustrations with Supervisor Tiffany Henyard’s agenda, which they described as disorganized and unvetted.

"We're not going to be part of the circus," Gonzalez said. "We just want to get some responsible adults. You know, communication, and try to do the right thing by the citizens."

The trustees expressed specific concerns about the appointment of a new board member, arguing that the process should involve the community, not just the board. They suggested the proposed appointee would likely support Henyard’s spending plans, which they have previously criticized.

Carlisle emphasized the need to pause and reassess the board’s direction.

"Just because somebody is doing something doesn't mean progress is happening," she said. "But we need to know that progress is actually being made and the best things are being done for the township. And if that means we stop for a moment to, you know, allow for a better process to happen, that's what you do. We stop. We don't just keep going with the chaos."

This latest standoff follows months of tension on the board, with trustees accusing Henyard of disregarding their proposals. The dysfunction comes as the township approaches elections in April, a pivotal moment that could reshape the board’s leadership.

Gonzalez and Carlisle maintain that they are committed to ensuring essential tasks like payroll and bill payments are completed.

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