In a 5-1 vote, the Henderson City Council approved a motion that will allow Mayor Melissa Elliott to take part in a “train-the-trainer” session to teach day trading.
Council Member Sam Seifert cast the dissenting vote and Council Members Garry Daeke and Lamont Noel were not present at the special called meeting, announced on Friday, Aug. 29 with the intent of going into closed session to discuss a personnel matter.
The meeting lasted just over an hour and the closed session never happened. According to the city’s website, Tuesday’s meeting is the 10th special called meeting of 2025.
Elliott said the grant opportunity comes from the African American Mayors’ Association, which will allow for up to 10 city residents, selected by a committee, to learn the ins and outs of day trading, using $100 of “free” money that is all part of the grant.
Council Member Tami Walker expressed reservations about the program, but she ultimately voted in favor of the city participating. Walker also asked to be included on the committee that will select the individuals who will participate. Elliott said she didn’t have exact dates, but said she would get the dates and send them to the Council.
Much of the meeting was contentious, with Elliott and City Manager/Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry talking over one another and arguing the finer points of mayoral roles and responsibilities versus those of the city manager.
Elliott said she checks the city calendar before scheduling meetings in the Council Chambers; Kingsberry said he needed some notice about any meeting that will be held on city property since it will involve city staff and facilities.
“The city manager doesn’t have power over elected officials,” Elliott said.
And Kingsberry’s response was that he manages City Hall. “I don’t have a problem with you holding things,” he said, adding that “you can’t just commandeer a space in the City Hall.”
We still need to know when it’s going to be.”
Elliott did agree to providing a two-week advance notice to Kingsberry when the Council Chambers would be reserved for a training or a meeting that Elliott schedules.
The City Council is set to meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8 for its regular monthly meeting.
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