DOLTON, Ill. (CBS) — Extra security was in place Monday night for a Dolton Village Board meeting, following a brawl last week at a board meeting for Thornton Township.

At the Dolton Village Board meeting Monday night, anyone headed in had to be cleared by security. There had been numerous discussions by trustees as to whether it was safe even to hold the meeting in person —especially after the brawl at the township board meeting on Tuesday of last week.

At the Thornton Township Board meeting this past Tuesday night, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard — who also serves as Thornton Township supervisor — jumped in the middle of a brawl.

The video of the brawl was seen around the world. It started after the public comments portion of the meeting. The last to offer public comments was Jedidiah Brown, who made a lengthy harangue directed at Thornton Township Supervisor Henyard that ended with his calling Henyard a “b****.”

Before Brown could get back to his seat, Henyard’s allies — including her boyfriend, Kamal Woods — confronted Brown. At that point, punches went flying.

Several men joined the tussle, where people threw punches and started kicking. Tables were tossed. Security tried separating the men.

Meanwhile, witnesses said Henyard — who was seated at a table at the front of the room with the board of trustees — ran toward the tussle. It was unclear whether Henyard was trying to break up the fight or to get involved herself, but she did lose a shoe and was thrown to the floor.

“I have been a resident of Dolton for 40 years,” Dolton resident Deborah White said at the village board meeting Monday night. “I’ve never seen such deplorable actions in our community.”

Those in the room for the Monday night meeting said they came to witness government business take place, not to watch a spectacle.

“The light been shining on roaches, and the roaches have scattered. They have scattered,” a man said during the meeting. “I don’t see many of them here today.”

Henyard did not show up to the Dolton Village Board meeting Monday night. Village business went on as usual.

The Dolton mayor has not shown her face publicly since she jumped in the middle of the brawl at the Thornton Township meeting.

The meeting Monday night was also the first for the Dolton Village Board since an independent investigation found widespread financial mismanagement in the troubled south suburb.

Many said Henyard must address former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s findings in the investigation eventually.

The report alleges Henyard and her administration deliberately tried misleading the public into not finding out about alleged “gross financial mismanagement” both in Dolton and Thornton Township.

“In light of what took place last week, I didn’t expect her to show up today,” said Dolton Village Trustee Tammie Brown. “But not responding to the Lori Lightfoot report? I didn’t expect her to respond to that anyway.”

However, current trustees say Henyard has an obligation to speak out about the findings of the probe — which clearly puts a stamp on the issues they have been raising for years as they have questioned the tax dollars spent.

“The residents are entitled to answers, so I do hope she gives some answers to that report,” said Trustee Jason House. “The residents want to hear, and they want to know.”

“So you owe them owe them a response to the findings of Lightfoot,” added Brown. “Whether they’re true or not, or whether you believe they’re true or not, you owe them a response.”

Trustees also said before the meeting that the optics of the brawl last week are detrimental.

“Now, the concerns have escalated to a point that is far beyond financial misconduct,” said Dolton Village Trustee Brittney Norwood. “Now, I’m receiving calls from residents who are scared to even attend public meetings. People are afraid of what they witnessed on Tuesday night — where violence and chaos overtook what should have been a peaceful and productive gathering.”

It was also revealed Monday night that the Village of Dolton defaulted on one of its life insurance policies for employees due to non-payment. This was claimed to be the result of a clerical error, which trustees said they are looking to fix immediately.

Voters head to the polls in Dolton in three weeks.