The Harvey City Council meeting concluded Monday with the city still lacking an acting mayor.

But the City Council voted unanimously to approve several items, including a lawsuit settlement and the acceptance of road improvement funds. However, there was no action scheduled on the mayoral vacancy.

Mayor Christopher Clark died Jan. 30, leaving Harvey without a mayor. The City Council was scheduled to select a new acting mayor to serve out the remainder of Clark’s term at a special meeting Feb. 2, but deadlocked between 1st Ward Ald. Shirley Drewenski and 5th Ward Ald. Dominique Randle-El. Each received three votes from the six-member City Council.

Drewenski is mayor pro tempore until an acting mayor is elected.

The selection of an acting clerk and a resolution to update the city’s bank signatories has been deferred until an acting mayor is selected.

“I understand that there’s no timeline,” resident Amanda Askew told aldermen Monday. “But I do believe that the sense of urgency needs to happen, like, yesterday, so those people can lock in and do their job properly.”

Drewenski said the mayoral vacancy will be addressed at the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23. Since not everyone who wanted to attend the last meeting was able to fit in the council chambers, Drewenski said, the aldermen are seeking a venue that will accommodate more people.

Drewenski also said residents interested of the public interested in city clerk position hould submit letters of interest, with an interview process to follow.

Clark’s absence was still palpable in the room, as aldermen continued to adjust to meetings without him. Clark was mayor since 2019, and an alderman before that.

“It has been one week,” Drewenski said. “One week since we found ourselves in this situation.”

Fourth Ward Ald. Tracy Key encouraged the City Council to come together as a team, urging all of the aldermen out of their seats to put their hands together as before a big game.

“All teams need a coach. Shirley — Madame Pro Tem — you are our coach right now,” Key said. “I’m a team player because I care about my city, I came here and I got people counting on me.”

Second Ward Ald. Colby Chapman noted Monday’s meeting was the first time in a long time the City Council had cooperated so well.

“For the first time in a long time, this council voted unanimously across the board,” Chapman said. “That matters. It shows when clarity is provided and processes are respected, we can come together as one body to move the city forward.”

Ryan Sinwelski speaks during public comment during Monday’s Harvey City Council meeting. (Evy Lewis/Daily Southtown)

Among the items approved unanimously was a settlement agreement for a lawsuit brought by local activist Ryan Sinwelski over the city’s failure to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests.

The city eventually released the requested records, though after a delay of over a year, according to the settlement agreement. Drewenski attributed the delay to human error. The city agreed to pay Sinwelski’s legal costs.

The council also voted to accept funds to improve Broadway Avenue, which runs in front of City Hall, and to convey right of ways surrounding the city’s Metra station to Metra. The resolutions regarding Metra are part of a long-planned improvement project and were originally passed by City Council in 2021, Drewenski said.

“The city will vacate the property so Metra can do their work,” Drewenski said. “And then once it’s completed, the city will resume ownership.”

elewis@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/10/harvey-acting-mayor-foia-settlement/