Dolton trustees plan to hire a firm to conduct a “forensic audit” of village finances as the exit nears of an administration under Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who they’ve accused of mismanaging village funds.

Monday was the last regular Village Board meeting before Trustee Jason House is inaugurated as mayor at the May 5 meeting.

Henyard was a no-show Monday, marking her fourth consecutive absence. Board meetings are held once a month.

Trustee Stan Brown, who has in the past been an ally of Henyard, was at the meeting, but absent was Andrew Holmes, a staunch supporter of Henyard who has had spotty attendance at recent meetings.

In the April 1 election, House had more than 95% of the vote over Independent candidate Casundra Hopson-Jordan. In the February primary, House bested Henyard, garnering 88% of the vote.

Resident Dan Lee was among those who congratulated House, as well as village clerk and trustee candidates who ran on the Clean House slate.

“I am feeling more optimistic now than I ever have,” Lee said.

House said the community has come together since the election and said “Clean House has become the community.” The trustee, who first ran with Henyard four years ago, said his Clean House would transition to the label of “Dolton United.”

Trustee Kiana Belcher, who was reelected, moved to request proposals from outside firms to conduct a forensic audit, saying such a probe will “give us some clarity on what we don’t know” about village finances.

Belcher said the audit would focus primarily on spending in the village’s police, water and housing departments.

Last year the Illinois comptroller ordered a forced audit of Dolton finances, ultimately assigning an outside firm to conduct audits after Dolton was unable to find an auditor willing to take on the job.

House said he expects two audits, for the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, to wrap up within the next four months.