In an emergency meeting called by Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert, it was announced in an atmosphere of mutual agreement that Assistant City Manager Mark Warren would be named Acting City Manager for the duration of City Manager Jerry Moss’s illness.
At the beginning of the meeting, Seifert updated the attending members of the council, department heads, and other city officials on Moss’s condition.
According to Seifert, Moss had “a procedure” on Monday and the results warrented surgery on Thursday.
The mayor said that Moss would be out for six weeks.
Seifert said that what was at issue was North Carolina General Statute 160a-149, which, according to the mayor, gives a city council the authority to name an acting city manager to assure that the city runs normally.
He said that during Monday’s regular meeting that the city council would approve that designation for Warren.
Seifert mentioned that city council members cannot be appointed.
“We should stay out of city management,” the mayor said.
The mayor continued his apologia for naming an acting city manager, stating that an acting manager was being named because a city manager has very specific authority under the law, and when the manager is absent, that authority needs to be delegated.
Seifert stated that he thought it was better to say it at one time.
Henderson City Council member Lonnie Davis asked if the council needed to appoint an assistant to the acting manager. Seifert responded that it was up to [Warren].
“Fortunately, I have a lot of experience in that,” Warren quipped.
Council members Lynn Harper and Mary Emma Evans both expressed confidence in Warren, as did council member Garry Daeke.
“We have full confidence in Mark Warren,” Evans said. “We know the city is going to be run well.”