(This post has been updated on June 2 at 9:30 a.m. to include an additional clarification by Mayor Melissa Elliott. You will find it in bold italics below the original text before the audio file.)
Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott told WIZS News Monday morning that she called last week’s emergency meeting in an effort to protect employees mentioned in an email that called for the city manager’s removal and immediate replacement.
Elliott briefly interrupted the City Council’s budget work session Thursday to set up the meeting. Council Member Tami Walker sent an email – using her city email address – to her colleagues on the Council, Elliott, City Manager Paylor Spruill and the city attorney – that called for Spruill to be fired and to make Kendrick Vann interim manager for the next six months. Vann, director of the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department, also is assistant to the city manager.
“I called a meeting because I got 76 text messages concerning Kendrick Vann,” Elliott said Monday.
The city employees were put in “a very precarious position that should have never happened,” she said.
Both Spruill and Vann “should be protected by law” as employees, she said. “What shouldn’t have never happened was a Council member sending that to a newspaper…that’s wrong,” she said.
The emergency meeting was called because there were numerous people inquiring about what was going on and why, she explained. “It was called for the email and for the protection of employees. I did not call the meeting to have anything to do with anyone being fired or resigning – that is not what Melissa Elliott did,” she said.
Four Council members were present for the Friday emergency meeting – Geraldine Champion, Catherine “Kitty” Gill, Michael Venable and Walker. Not present were Council members Garry Daeke, Kenia Gómez-Jimenez, Lamont Noel and Sam Seifert.
The emergency meeting lasted for about an hour, with no action being taken when the Council returned to open session.
When asked for what happens next, Elliott said, “there is a next step and I can share that,” but provided no details.
In a follow-up message, Elliott said that while she is deeply concerned about the attention being put on “internal city controversies and distractions,” the larger issue facing the community is the issue of regional water resources.
“As Mayor, my priority is protecting Henderson’s long-term water interests, defending local decision-making, and ensuring that our residents maintain access to a resource that is critical to our economic future, public health, and quality of life. Regardless of political affiliation, I believe our community deserves transparency and a full public discussion about any actions that could impact our water system and regional authority.”
Elliott told WIZS Tuesday morning, June 2, “I would like to make a correction and clarification regarding a statement I made.
“After listening to the recording, I realized that I misspoke when referencing an email. I stated that the Mayor Pro Tem sent an email to the newspaper. That statement was incorrect. What I intended to say was that the Mayor Pro Tem sent the email to members of the City Council and the Board.
“For the sake of accuracy and transparency, I want to be clear that I do not know which individual ultimately provided the information to the newspaper. It was not my intention to attribute that action to the Mayor Pro Tem, and I regret the error.
“As Mayor, I believe it is important to correct the record when mistakes are made. I take responsibility for my words and want to ensure that all parties are treated fairly and that facts remain at the center of public discussions.
“I apologize for the confusion my statement may have caused and appreciate the opportunity to make this clarification.” – Mayor Melissa Elliott City of Henderson
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