Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon has resigned.
In a special called meeting on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. called by Mayor Melissa Elliott, the city council entered into closed session to discuss a personnel matter.
The information available after the council returned to open session was scant, but in addition to the resignation, it included a decision by the council that the city would contact the League of Municipalities to ask for information about retired managers or others qualified to be interim manager.
Blackmon submitted his letter of resignation on Wednesday, Dec. 11 – two days after the regular monthly Council meeting. He didn’t elaborate on any reason for his decision to resign. Blackmon told WIZS that his last day as manager will be Jan. 10. He came to work as manager in 2020.
As part of the Sunday called meeting, the City Council voted 4-2 to contact the League of Municipalities. Council members Geraldine Champion, Garry Daeke, Lamont Noel and Sam Seifert voted in favor of contacting the N.C. League of Municipalities, a member-driven organization that provides support and guidance to cities and towns across the state.
Council members Ola Thorpe-Cooper and Michael Venable voted no; Council members Sara Coffey and Tami Walker were not present at the meeting.
Two people were in attendance at the Sunday meeting – a local newspaper reporter and one other person. That other person contacted WIZS Monday morning and said that shouting could be heard toward the end of the closed session, but none of the exact words could be understood.
Several key staff positions report to and work at the pleasure of the City Council – including the city attorney and the city manager – and Raleigh attorney Hassan Kingsberry was recently sworn in as interim city attorney, filling the position left vacant when D. Rix Edwards resigned. That job posting is currently on the city’s website; interested applicants have until Dec. 30 to apply.
The city has hired Salonia Saxton as its new public information officer. Saxton introduced herself at the December meeting.
Blackmon said he expected a press statement about the resignation to be issued by the city.
Other news gathering indicates the City Manager job will be posted on the City’s webpage as well.
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