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Maywood trustees approve operating budget as tensions flare over warrant approvals
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Summary
Trustees approved the FY2019–20 budget presentation and carried contested warrant lists after debate over checks previously issued without formal board approval; several trustees pressed for stronger controls and for administration to stop writing checks without prior board signoff.
Maywood trustees on April 9 reviewed a proposed $48,872,561 operating budget and carried contested vendor warrant lists after heated exchanges about checks issued without prior board approval.
Finance Director Lanya Satchell presented the FY2019–20 operating budget, which totals $48,872,561 and lists the General Fund at $30,364,927, Water/Sewer/Garbage at $9,461,841, Madison TIF at $3,880,135 and Roosevelt TIF at $900,000. Trustees queried several line items, including a proposed $1,000-per-trustee training increase, $50,000 for Maywood Fest and holiday pole decorations; Trustees Sanchez and Wellington volunteered to forego the training increase.
The board also considered Warrant List No. 200468 ($1,154,214.00). Trustee A. Sanchez asked how checks had been written without board approval. Village Manager Willie Norfleet Jr. said he had previously suggested a directive to administration “not to write checks without Board approval.” After an initial tie vote on the warrant list, trustees approved the list with exceptions, removing Check Nos. 99198, 99215, 99216 and 99219 for separate votes. The Board later approved those individual checks, including reimbursements and a $1,000 travel/food payment tied to Isiah Brandon.
Trustees followed the same procedure for Warrant List No. 200469 ($1,978,492.87), approving it with exceptions and then separately approving pulled checks related to community payments associated with Trustee Rivers’ requests.
Why it matters: Trustees pressed staff on financial controls and transparency during approvals of large and recurring payments. Manager Norfleet and Finance Director Satchell fielded questions about process and revenue sources; auditors and staff later recommended stronger checks and balances.
The board did not vote on the budget at this meeting; the operating budget was presented for consideration and public review. The meeting record shows ongoing concerns about internal controls and the need for clearer procedures for issuing payments and presenting warrant lists to the board.