Henderson City Manager/City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry resigns amid personnel investigations
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Summary
City Manager/City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry distributed a resignation letter at the Aug. 11 meeting after Councilmember Geraldine Champion urged he step down while investigations proceed; Council discussed using NCLM counsel and whether the mayor should also step aside.
Henderson City Manager and City Attorney Hassan T. Kingsberry distributed a written resignation during the City Council’s Aug. 11 meeting and thanked the Council for the opportunity to serve.
The resignation followed public discussion of ongoing personnel-related investigations. Councilmember Geraldine Champion said she was concerned about potential City liability if another employee filed a harassment claim against management and moved that Kingsberry step down from his positions effective immediately while investigations continue; she also proposed that Paylor Spruill serve as acting assistant city manager during the inquiry and that the City seek counsel from the North Carolina League of Municipalities.
Kingsberry initially requested a closed session on a personnel matter but chose to hand out his resignation in open session and address the Council. Councilmember Garry D. Daeke argued the matters were personnel-related and should be handled in closed session; Kingsberry agreed that issues involving him personally constituted personnel matters while matters involving the Council would be handled in open session.
The Council did not take a formal vote recorded in the minutes on whether to accept the specific motion to have Kingsberry step down pending investigation; the minutes record that Kingsberry provided his resignation and expressed thanks to the Council.
Why it matters: The city’s top administrative and legal post is now vacant at a time Council members are discussing multiple capital projects and grants that staff administer. Councilmember Champion also asked whether the mayor, who she said was under investigation, would be asked to step down, a point raised during the same exchange.
Next steps: The minutes state the Council would seek outside counsel from the NCLM during the investigation; the clerk was directed to follow regular procedures for personnel matters and any subsequent actions will be noted at future meetings.