UPDATE 10-30-25 at 5:20 p.m.

In a special called meeting on Thursday afternoon, the Henderson City Council named Gary “Paylor” Spruill as city manager. The Council went into closed session at 3 p.m.

The vote was unanimous, with Council Member Sara Coffey absent.

Spruill was appointed interim city manager at the Sept. 8, 2025, City Council meeting, after the Council accepted the resignation of Hassan T. Kingsberry, who had served as city manager since January 2025.

Kingsberry had been serving in the dual roles of city manager/city attorney. He was sworn in as city attorney on Dec. 10, 2024 and was then chosen to assume the role of city manager after former manager Terrell Blackmon tendered his resignation effective Jan. 10, 2025.

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UPDATE 10-29-25 at 11:20 a.m.

Along with the community, WIZS News hopes to learn more about the City’s process to hire an attorney, or at least contract with an attorney or firm, as well as efforts to hire a new city manager.

If so, it will require Mayor Melissa Elliott, or a council member or Interim City Manager Paylor Spruill to make an announcement, presumably after the meeting, because the entire meeting is listed as a closed session.

As of now, the public notice below has been issued but an actual agenda for the meeting has not been forwarded to WIZS or placed on the City’s web page.

Click Play!

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Public Notice

The Henderson City Council will hold a Special Called Meeting on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue. The purpose of the meeting is to enter into Closed Session pursuant to NCGS § 143-318.11 (a)(6) regarding a Personnel Matter.   The public is welcome. https://youtube.com/@CityofHenderson-NC