The political power struggle in Dolton continues after Mayor Tiffany Henyard appeared in court to force the village board to hold meetings at the village hall.

The dispute stems from two dueling meetings at two different locations on October 7. Henyard filed a lawsuit against several administrators in the village government and in the village’s park district after these meetings, saying the meetings should still be held at the village hall.

The administrators withdrew, citing a binding opinion from the Attorney General’s Public Access Bureau that ordered the village to take measures to make the meetings convenient and open to the public, including requiring the meetings to be held in a location with sufficient space to be reasonably accessible.

Henyard’s lawsuit called for the village hall to be the primary place for conducting village business, but a Cook County Chancery judge ruled against her on Monday.

“The meetings should be held somewhere other than the village – just as the attorney general has said,” said Attorney Burt Odelson, who represents the majority of the trustees.

Residents had previously complained about barricades, street closures and insufficient space at board meetings.

“The people of Dolton filed the complaint, not the lawyers. This is about Dolton people and trustees trying to make amends,” Odelson said.

Henyard was in court today with Trustee Andrew Holmes, who is also part of the lawsuit. They did not speak, but their lawyer did speak.

“The mayor has always been clear: the people of Dolton deserve to know where their business is done… one meeting in one place – that’s all we asked for,” said attorney Max Solomon.

The judge also rejected Henyard’s request to nullify many of the cases approved at that October 7 meeting. The judge also said he was concerned about the mayor, Jason House, overstepping his bounds, saying Henyard is the elected mayor and has a duty to chair meetings.

The next village board meeting could be held in the park district, if the park district board agrees.