DOLTON, Ill. — Firefighters in the south suburban Village of Dolton dropped a major bombshell during a board meeting Monday night, saying they’ve been working without a contract for almost five years and demanding answers on retirement funds, workmen’s compensation and union dues.
Community members, including the local firefighters union president, took part in public comments to start the night, expressing anger and frustration at the village and Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
Still, the embattled Henyard remained defiant, calling herself a “beacon of light for Dolton.”
According to Adam Farej, president of Local 3766, firefighters have been working with no contract now for close to five years, despite requests to reach an agreement.
The problem allegedly stems back to the beginning of Henyard’s tumultuous tenure as mayor, when she replaced the then-full-time deputy chief with a part-time deputy chief, a contributor to her campaign fund.
“Currently, the village still refuses to negotiate, making progress extremely difficult, if not impossible,” Farej said.
Farej also said money withdrawn from union members’ paychecks, which is supposed to be sent to the insurance and financial services company Nationwide, is missing — specifically, about nine to 10 checks’ worth.
“The village has not followed these steps and has no accountability of where the money is, or if they’ve spent it,” Farej said. “Once this was discovered, the administration was informed via email by the previous union president that these missing deposits can be seen as theft of wages.
“They responded by placing him on administrative leave for inappropriate emails.”
Union members also raised concerns about health insurance, covered under the collective bargaining agreement, and premiums not being met, which they said has resulted in some members and their families’ claims not only being denied, but sent to collections.
“Dolton Fire Department is here to serve and protect the residents of Dolton, and we do this with pride,” Farej said. “We will continue to do this despite the fact our health insurance is not being paid, our retirement funds are being taken from us, and workmen’s compensation claims are not being handled properly.
“These are serious issues, and they need to be addressed immediately.”
Meanwhile, community members not only applauded as firefighters made their way in and out of the meeting, but they also demanded answers on their behalf.
“I think it is only fair as citizens of Dolton that we let them know we are 100% behind you,” Mary Avant, a Dolton resident, said to the firefighters.
‘Appalled to be a resident’
On top of the Fire Department’s call for transparency on missing funds and raising awareness about its lack of a contract, others at Monday’s meeting demanded answers on property tax hikes and where their taxes are going.
“I received my tax bill. It is three times what it was last installment. My alleys are messed up, I have garbage all over the place, I have a couple abandoned houses on my block,” one resident said. “You say you’re for the people. How can you be for the people when you’re not even looking at the people?”
Except for one speaker who praised her, Henyard did not look up as community members took the podium for public comment.
“I’ve been here for 30 years. This is the worst I have ever seen this village. I am appalled to be a resident,” one woman said. “You have your head up. You need to be looking at what I am saying, because we are tired.
“I am tired of hearing, ‘Tiffany Henyard did this, Tiffany Henyard did this.’ I need to know where my money is going.”
Said another resident to the board: “When the circus comes to town, the clowns come out. And I’m looking at you guys.”
Henyard later deferred blame on raising property taxes to Dolton’s Board of Trustees.
Lightfoot investigation
During announcements, Trustee Jason House shared a statement on behalf of former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, appointed by the board to investigate the village’s financials and spending.
The statement read, in part: “We have conducted a number of witness interviews, many of which have been very informative and led to the discovery of other relevant evidence. We have reviewed many lawsuits filed. We have reviewed historic village legislative action, and we have issued scores of FOIA requests to the Village of Dolton and elsewhere.
“As a result of this work, a picture is emerging of the village’s finances, the way in which the current executive administration operates. While many witnesses have been generous in their willingness to be interviewed, the village mayor’s failure to cooperate has a chilling effect on current employees’ willingness to speak or otherwise cooperate.”
On June 14, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office responded to a complaint filed by Henyard, the AG’s Office ruling that the appointment of Lightfoot as special investigator was legal and allowed. Previously, Henyard vetoed Lightfoot’s investigation into village financials, a motion overridden by the majority of trustees.
Dolton agreed to pay the former Chicago mayor and federal prosecutor a maximum of $30,000 for the investigation.
“By our estimates, we are well under $20,000 to date,” Lightfoot wrote in the statement read by House. “As obligated, we will provide a projection of all costs when we get closer to the $30,000 mark.”
When Henyard’s opportunity to present her report and what her administration is doing came up, many community members pulled up newspapers, pretending to be preoccupied with reading.
“I think we’ve been doing an awesome job, and I love the fact that my staff has been on the ground taking care of the business,” Henyard said. “I am literally the beacon of light for Dolton.”
The board also voted on two items during Monday’s meeting, one related to a water bill and one to overrule a veto to appoint a mayor pro tempore when Henyard isn’t present.
Five trustees voted yes on the latter vote, including Stanley Brown, a longtime ally of Henyard who flipped Monday night. Trustee Andrew Holmes voted no.
Holmes, who is accused but not charged in a civil complaint of sexual assault allegations while on a taxpayer-funded trip to Las Vegas, was confronted by an attendee demanding answers on the allegations at the conclusion of Monday’s meeting.
Ending on a contentious note, the man was escorted out by police, as several residents followed the crowd in support.
After Monday night’s regular board meeting, trustees then held a special board meeting, due to what they said was the mayor’s refusal to include several items on the regular meeting agenda.
“Because someone wanted to be a self-servant and not a public servant, these are the things we are encountering,” Trustee Kiana Belcher said.