An already divided Thornton Township Board was revealed to be further fractured Tuesday night, with one trustee resigning ahead of a meeting and two others absent due to concerns for their safety.
Despite lack of a quorum, township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard used the gathering to refute a statement released by Trustees Chris Gonzalez and Carmen Carlisle that her office failed to ensure their safety after a chaotic meeting two weeks ago. Gonzalez said shortly Carlisle was harassed when attempting to leave the building and the security present failed to create a safe environment.
“Despite numerous attempts to address these issues with the supervisor’s office, we have yet to receive a response regarding the safety plan that is essential for ensuring a secure environment for all attendees,” the statement, released shortly ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled meeting, said. “It is our priority to make informed decisions that prioritize the well being of our community.”
Township official and close Henyard ally Keith Price, who Henyard said was tasked with bolstering security at the Township Hall, shot back with claims he offered to install metal detectors and criticized trustees for insisting the board meet downstairs instead of upstairs, where Henyard feels more safe.
“Many of you remember the supervisor had concerns about safety because it was a lot of attacks on her,” Price said. “The board would not comply.”
Gonzalez said Wednesday the upstairs space is too small to fit the number of people who typically attend the meetings and creates a cramped environment that is less secure for the attendees. He said he hopes for a safety plan that includes security officers from an outside entity.
However, Gonzalez said the board is likely to meet again soon, whether at a special meeting or the next scheduled meeting Nov. 19, to vote in an interim trustee to replace of Jerry Jones, who stepped down Monday to “prioritize my personal and health life going forward,” according to his resignation letter.
Henyard and trustees are able to fill a vacancy, with the clerk casting a tie-breaking vote if needed. Gonzalez said he is concerned Henyard will attempt to appoint an interim replacement without the board being present and hopes the new trustee will be someone open minded to different viewpoints.
“We would be hard pressed to find somebody who’s not invested in some way in one side or the other,” Gonzalez said. “But there are people who have their opinions and may be on one side, but they’re not against somebody just to be against them.”
Any appointed trustee would serve until the April 2025 election, when all four trustee seats and the supervisor position are on the ballot.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
