The City Council of Harvey convened on January 8, 2024, for its first meeting in over two months, during which members approved a budget and tax levy despite the absence of Mayor Christopher Clark. His lack of attendance drew mixed reactions from council members and residents alike, with 4th Ward Alderman Tracy Key expressing disappointment, stating, “I wish the mayor was here tonight… he’s got a lot of explaining to do.”
Chairing the meeting, 5th Ward Alderman Dominique Randle-El defended Clark, suggesting that the mayor might be dealing with personal matters, affirming, “He’s not running, he’s not hiding, he’s not afraid. He’s human.” This meeting was particularly significant as it was only the second council gathering since the city declared a state of financial distress and enacted a partial government shutdown in October 2022.
During the meeting, the council addressed critical financial issues facing the city. The approved budget and tax levy ordinance pertained to the fiscal year beginning on May 1, 2025, and concluding on April 30, 2026. This timing raised questions from residents, including Glynis James-Watson, who noted, “The fiscal year that they just voted for was last year… how have you been operating without a budget for this whole time?”
The council’s previous meetings were postponed as part of what some critics viewed as a strategy by Clark to evade scrutiny during a time of crisis. Key highlighted that several holidays had passed since the last meeting, reflecting the prolonged absence of city governance.
A committee meeting preceded the council session, focusing heavily on Harvey’s financial state. During this session, Kyle Kasperek from the accounting firm John Kasperek Co. presented an audit of the city’s fiscal year 2021-2022. Harvey is currently years behind on its annual audits, and the firm issued “disclaimer” opinions on several financial sections, indicating insufficient information to provide thorough evaluations. Kasperek clarified that while the financial picture remains challenging, the city did manage to exceed expenses by $2 million during the audited period, representing an improvement from the previous year.
The council’s approval of both ordinances saw support from Randle-El, 1st Ward Alderman Shirley Drewenski, 3rd Ward Alderman Telanee Smith, and 6th Ward Alderman Tyrone Rogers. In contrast, Key and 2nd Ward Alderman Colby Chapman opposed the appropriations ordinance, citing concerns about the council’s financial management.
As the city grapples with its financial challenges, the path forward remains unclear. Kasperek reassured residents of his firm’s commitment to assist Harvey in catching up on its financial reporting, stating, “We’re just doing our best to get this city caught up and looking ahead to the future.”
The council’s ability to navigate these financial complexities while addressing community concerns will be closely monitored in the coming months, especially as the city continues to deal with the repercussions of its financial distress.
