In its second-ever item of business, the new Henderson City Council elected member Ranger Wilkerson as its new Mayor Pro-Tempore.
At the outset, Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert expressed his intention to appoint the Mayor Pro-Tempore as a committee of one who would be in charge of council committee assignments.
Before any votes were taken, newly re-appointed City Attorney John Zollicoffer advised the council that until an appointment was made, council member Bernard Alston would continue to serve as the Mayor Pro-Tempore. Zollicoffer assured the council that the decision could be deferred until a later time.
Council member Lonnie Davis then moved that Alston be re-appointed to the position.
Before the vote was taken, council member Mary Emma Evans expressed to the council that she thought that the office of Mayor Pro-Tempore would be rotated. Council member Elissa Yount responded that the idea had been dismissed.
When the vote was taken, only Davis, Alston, and newly seated council member Garry Daeke voted for Alston. All others were opposed.
Immediately afterwards, Council member Lynn Harper moved that Ranger Wilkerson be appointed to the post. Council member Bobby Gupton seconded the motion. When the vote was taken by show of hands, only Davis was opposed.
Alston did not raise his hand for or against, abstaining from the vote.
Once Wilkerson was recognized as the new Mayor Pro-Tempore, Seifert deferred appointing him to a committee of one to make council committee assignments. He said to the council that he wished to table the matter until a “better time”.
A motion was made to delay the committee matter until the December 19 meeting. Yount recommended that the subject be discussed at the council retreat which was held on December 6. Zollicoffer advised the council that committees could serve until the December 19 meeting. It was, however, noted that since the membership of the council had changed that consequently commitees would not have the same members. Seifert responded that ad hoc committees could be formed to deal with immediate issues until the new standing committees were formed.
Zollicoffer advised the council that although committee assignments could be made at the council retreat, it could not be voted on until the December 19 meeting.
The retreat does not comply with the open meeting law. The council may discuss, but may not vote on any matter while at the retreat.
The motion to table the matter of committees until December 19 was approved.