SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (WLS) — Thornton Township trustees have hired two law firms to handle the representation of the township and other defendants involved in two lawsuits stemming from a brawl that occurred during a January meeting.
Those defendants include Supervisor Tiffany Henyard, but only in her official role.
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And with less than a month left in her tumultuous tenure, Henyard was a no-show at Tuesday night’s meeting. Many residents have already moved on.
“It’s a pivotal moment, in my opinion. I’m excited, personally. Out with the old. In with the new,” said Thornton Township resident Alicia Nichole.
The Thornton Township Board of Trustees has officially selected legal counsel to manage the township’s defense in two federal lawsuits brought by individuals claiming their freedom of speech rights were infringed upon during the altercation at the meeting in January.
Henyard, who was seen racing into the melee, is also named in the lawsuits as a defendant.
“We will not be representing anybody in their personal capacity, just their official,” said Thornton Township Trustee Stephanie Wiedeman.
In the waning days of Henyard’s administration, trustees said they are still assessing the township’s finances.
“We are currently assessing the situation. Although it doesn’t appear to be dire, we are still determining our exact position,” explained Chris Gonzalez, a Trustee of Thornton Township.
Three weeks ago, State Senator Napoleon Harris was elected the new township supervisor.
Henyard had mounted a write-in campaign. She also lost last February’s Dolton mayoral primary to Dolton Trustee Jason House, who begins that job next month.
An attorney for Henyard did not immediately return ABC7’s message. She has one final meeting as township supervisor before a new board is sworn in on May 19.
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