The Henderson City Council voted at its regular Monday night meeting this week to change to a once-per-month meeting schedule. There is a six month time frame in mind to try the reduced number of meetings, but it can be changed back to the twice-per-month routine at anytime. Two council people present voted against the idea.

Councilwoman Sara Coffey told WIZS News, “Brenda Peace and I voted to keep it twice per month because we don’t feel like meeting once per month is a fair representation of the City, to handle City business.” She said, “Especially with a new City manager, and you’ll have new people coming on the council. Meeting once a month is not going to be enough.”

The City will also have a new mayor. Mayor-elect Eddie Ellington has already started attending the meetings, and he was present for the vote, although just as an observer. Ellington said, “I kind of have mixed feelings on it. I guess we’re just going to have to wait to see how it works out.”

The City Council’s move takes place post election, except for next week’s runoff between Brenda Peace and Melissa Elliott as well as between Marion Brodie Williams and Clarence J. Dale, but before the new mayor and at least one new member comes to the board, if not two new members.

Ellington said he understood what Mayor Pete O’Geary was saying about it being beneficial to the City staff because they would not have to be there twice per month, but, Ellington said, “then again you want to make sure you get the City’s business done, and you don’t know how easy it is going to be with one meeting per month. It’s always been twice a month, so I don’t know why now it’s some kind of burden.”

Coffey said, “I don’t want anybody thinking that I’m not doing my job for the City, and as far as I’m concerned, once a month is not nearly enough to handle City business. Now during the summer when everybody is on vacation, and we’re not meeting half the time, I mean I could see changing it during the summer time, but not during regular time.”

With only one meeting per month, it would result in a longer agenda, and it could mean less time for the public to speak to the council, in the meeting setting anyway, on issues they are having.

Ellington said, “I respect their vote, but I just don’t know how easy it’s going to be to stay on top of things with once per month meetings.”

WIZS News has left messages with additional council people for comment, and those comments will be added once received, although the position of the council people present at the meeting other than Peace and Coffey is not unknown because they voted for the once per month meeting schedule.

In a brief phone interview with Henderson City Manager Frank Frazier Tuesday morning, Frazier said the process of selecting a fire chief for the Henderson Fire Department continues.  He said he has a couple of interviews set up for next week and that a decision could come as early as the end of next week.

August 31 was the date that former Fire Chief Danny Wilkerson retired after 40 years of service to the department and 16 years as chief.  Assistant Fire Chief Steve Cordell is serving as Interim Fire Chief during the application and selection process.

Frazier previously told WIZS News that he had “received 11 applications from human resources that (he was) reviewing.  There are several internal applicants.  Besides the internal applicants, most of the other applicants are not local.”

One of those 11 applications is that of Interim Fire Chief Cordell.  Cordell expressed his excitement about being selected as the interim chief.  He said, “I would love to be the next fire chief and to provide the leadership needed to move the department forward.”

Frazier said, “The City of Henderson Fire Department has maintained a very good record and has been actively involved in the community for many years, so we certainly want that to continue.  Our department has experienced a good amount of retirement of seasoned firefighters, so it will be important for the new chief to provide leadership to insure that training and other aspects of running the fire department are passed on to the newer firefighters.”

Cordell said, if selected as chief, he would love to continue the good things going on in the department and the opportunity to carry the department successfully into the future.

The interviews for the new chief are being conducted by Frazier as well as the human resources director.

On October 21, 2015 around 9:12 PM officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to the area of E. Andrews Ave and US 1 South, Henderson in reference to a person that had been struck by a semi-truck.

Upon arrival, officers found the victim deceased from serious injuries.  The driver of the semi-truck struck the pedestrian in a wheelchair, and left the scene without contacting local authorities.  The semi-truck left in the direction of US 1 South towards Vanco Mill Road, Henderson.  The investigation is being conducted by members of the Henderson Police Department with the assistance from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.  The name of the victim is being withheld pending further investigation.

Companies that may have had their semi-trailer trucks in the area around the time of the collision are encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department.

The Henderson Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating the semi-truck. If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or the Henderson Police Department 252-438-4141. Crime Stoppers offer a reward up to $2,000 for information that may lead to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.

Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow