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               On April 9 during a board meeting at the Maywood Park District, chaos erupted after two board members were involved in a physical altercation. Included in the board agenda to be discussed that evening were very contentious items. Those items included the  proposed firing of Program Director Paula Hawkins, who had be hired roughly two months prior. A second matter slated for discussion was the questionable residency status the board’s President Taeveon Johnson. One of the accusations to be addressed is that allegedly since being elected into office in 2025, that the address listed as his primary residence had been sold. Generally it is standard procedure that when discussing sensitive topics such as; termination of employment or disciplinary actions that  those types of conversations are usually conducted privately in closed sessions. Witnesses in attendance the night of the meeting reported that minutes after the board members adjourned into closed session, verbal exchanges between various board members became very heated and at times extremely combative.

              Video surveillance footage obtained from the hallway right outside of the main boardroom, shows several board members leaving the smaller meeting room and heading back towards the main boardroom. Soon after, newly elected Commissioners Anthony Cook and Marcellus Wells can also be seen emerging from a room into the main hallway.  As the conversation between them continues, they slowing begin to circle one another.  Seconds later, Commissioner Wells lunges forward while he simultaneously pushed Commissioner Cook forcefully up against the wall, that was located immediately behind him. At which time President Johnson can be seen stepping up to restrain Commissioner Wells. The Maywood Police Department was subsequently called to the scene to investigate; criminal charges are now pending.

              The board did manage to reconvene back into open session, in order to vote on several pressing matters. The board did vote to immediately terminate the employment of Program Director.  In contrast the board at this time opted not to terminate the current secretary of the board. However, in a stranger turn of events the board did not require President Johnson to provide immediately proof residency. Instead that voted to grant him an additional thirty days to provide proof of residency. Illinois statutes clearly state that elected officials must be residents of the municipality that they choose to serve. Failure to maintain their residency requirement throughout the entire duration of term, could constitute the immediate forfeiture of their seat. A final decision on that agenda item was effectively tabled, until the next board in May.