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Council approves updated rules and an attendance policy after debate; vote 6-2
Summary
Henderson City Council approved an updated Rules, Procedures and Guidelines policy incorporating remote participation and an attendance policy. Council adopted two revisions (Clerk announces absence reasons; special-called meetings exempt) and approved the measure 6-2 with Noel and Coffey opposed.
Staff presented an updated Rules, Procedures and Guidelines policy that incorporates a Remote Participation provision and an attendance policy after work at the February strategic planning retreat.
Councilmember Lamont Noel objected to language he said could penalize members who must miss mid-day special-called meetings for work obligations and warned against giving council members authority to excuse each other’s absences. Councilmember Sara Coffey said the policy felt directed at her given recent health issues and asked whether doctor’s notes would be required. City Attorney D. Rix Edwards and City Manager Edward T. Blackmon explained that excused absences listed in the resolution include illness, and that the Remote Participation policy provides another avenue for participation.
Councilmember Ola Thorpe-Cooper moved approval of Resolution 24-22 with two recommended revisions: that the Clerk announce the reason and excused/unexcused status for absences during roll call and that special-called meetings be exempt from the attendance policy. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Michael Venable and passed 6-2; Councilmembers Lamont Noel and Sara Coffey voted no. The record notes the modifications are incorporated into the adopted policy (see Resolution Book 7).
Councilmembers debated practical concerns about work obligations, chronic illness, and transparency; the Clerk will now announce reasons for absences and whether they are excused or unexcused during Roll Call going forward.
