Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard said Monday that Keith Freeman, the village’s administrator, has been fired, although trustees said the mayor lacked the legal authority to do so and did not move to support her decision.
Trustees also voted to eliminate a handful of village jobs amid what they described as a “financial disaster” for the village and placed police Deputy Chief Lewis Lacey on administrative leave for an undefined period.
Freeman, the top aide to Henyard as Thornton Township supervisor, was dismissed from the township position last month.
Henyard said at Monday’s Dolton meeting that Freeman had been fired, but did not give a reason for his dismissal. When she asked trustees to make a motion to support her decision, the five trustees present were silent.
Trustee Kiana Belcher made a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Henyard ruled the trustee was out of order, then said “Keith Freeman is fired from the village of Dolton.”
Moments later, apparently talking to TV cameras or the camera recording the village’s livestream of the meeting, Henyard said “Keith Freeman, I know you’re watching, you no longer work for the village of Dolton.”
That came after trustees voted 5-0 to adjourn and began to step away from their desks.
After the meeting, Trustee Jason House said trustees did not speak up when Henyard asked for a motion on Freeman’s firing, saying they had been advised by their attorneys not to do so.
The four trustees who represent a majority on the Village Board — Belcher, Tammie Brown, House and Brittney Norwood — are represented by their own legislative attorneys, Odelson, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath.
House said Henyard did not have the legal authority to fire Freeman because the board needs to vote on hiring and firing.
“If she could do it unilaterally she would have. She doesn’t have the legal authorization,” he said.
House said the law firm said the village could be open to a lawsuit by Freeman if the board voted to fire him.
“They (attorneys) don’t think, timing wise, it was the right thing to do,” he said.
In April, Freeman was charged with bankruptcy fraud
More Top Picks Best Polarized Sunglasses For Light Sensitivity
in a federal indictment, accused of making false statements in his bankruptcy petition filed earlier this year to conceal from creditors his assets and sources of income and a significant claim against him.The 45-year-old Orland Park resident has pleaded not guilty and a status hearing in the matter is scheduled for Aug. 14.
Henyard herself is the focus of a probe by federal authorities, who have served subpoenas at Village Hall seeking financial records and other documents.
Regarding Lacey being placed on leave, House said trustees received some information about the deputy chief that needs to be investigated, and that “we would expect it to be enforced.”
Trustees also reluctantly voted to transfer funds from a tax increment financing district to the general fund to pay bills.
Belcher said the total was a little more than $1 million, and included money for things such as retroactive pay for police officers and village insurance.
Trustees said they had recently got more information about village finances during a meeting with Dolton’s accountant and information gathered by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, hired by trustees to do her own probe of Henyard and her administration.
House said Lightfoot will speak publicly about her findings so far during a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Dolton Park District’s Lester Long Fieldhouse, 14700 Evers St.
“This village is bleeding,” Trustee Brittney Norwood said. “If residents knew the truth they’d hit the roof.”
Layoffs approved in a 4-1 vote include a public works supervisor, building and permits clerk, a part-time housing director and two part-time laborers in the Public Works Department.
Henyard called the layoffs “political retaliation” on the trustees’ part, and said “this is targeting and they will be sued for doing so.”
The mayor said those employees being let go “will still be employed in the village of Dolton.”
House said that after meeting with the village’s accountant, trustees have a clearer understanding of the village’s financial condition.
“We are in dire need” and “there’s a lot more we have to do,” he said.
Belcher said trustees had a lengthy meeting with the village’s auditor, John Kasperek, and between that and what Lightfoot’s investigation has turned up so far they have a better understanding of the state of village finances.
Lightfoot, who is also a former assistant U.S. attorney, was hired as a special investigator by trustees and is being paid $400 an hour.
Trustees said some employee hires made by Henyard haven’t come to the Village Board first for review, and Dolton finds itself with a payroll it can’t support.
“You got us into this mess and we’re trying to salvage what we can,” Belcher told Henyard.
Trustees rejected Henyard’s assertion they targeted certain employees.
“It’s not personal,” Norwood said. “We have to make the tough decisions at the moment.”
Trustee Andrew Holmes was absent from the meeting and Trustee Stan Brown voted against the layoffs.
“I don’t feel it was done in a proper manner,” he said before voting. “I’m not comfortable with the layoffs.”