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Developer seeks site meeting; council debates closed‑session leak and member’s social post
Summary
Developer Chris Rivers asked to present plans for about eight affordable homes on Burwell Avenue but staff said current zoning does not permit it; council agreed to schedule a fuller presentation next month. The meeting also saw a dispute over sharing closed‑session details online, with Mayor Elliott criticizing a leak and Mayor Pro Tem Walker saying she posted only a developer business card.
A developer who attended the April 13 Henderson City Council meeting asked to be added to the agenda to present plans for building about eight affordable homes on Burwell Avenue. Mayor Melissa Elliott allowed the request and the Council voted 4–2 to add the developer’s short presentation, but City Manager Paylor Spruill told members the proposed homes would not be allowed under current zoning and requested time for staff to work with the developer to explore options.
Councilmember Geraldine Champion urged that developers be heard and suggested allowing Mr. Rivers to speak for five minutes and scheduling a broader developer presentation at the May meeting so staff could prepare. Mr. Spruill said he would work with the developers to explore alternatives, possibly including rezoning, property assembly, or other locations; he also said he would consider reimbursing a developer for cleanup costs already incurred.
The meeting escalated into a debate about confidentiality after a recent closed session was discussed publicly. Mayor Elliott said the premature release of closed‑session information created public confusion and backlash and warned that it could cause a developer to withdraw from a project. City Attorney Dan Hartzog Jr. explained that while disclosing closed‑session deliberations is ill‑advised and undermines the purpose of closed sessions, it is not necessarily illegal unless the subject is protected by state law (for example personnel matters). He added the council has the option to censure members if it believes conduct was inappropriate.
Mayor Pro Tem Tami Walker acknowledged posting material from the meeting online and said, according to her, she posted a business card the developer provided. "I only posted the business card he provided after the meeting," Walker said in the discussion. Mayor Elliott said the leak led to criticism and placed her and her family under unfair attack.
Councilmembers expressed differing views on social media practices and the need for consistent standards. Councilmember Michael Venable emphasized the importance of responding to developers; Mr. Spruill said he has been communicating through the Mayor and will continue working to identify possible parcels and to bring a contract for Hicks Village as appropriate.
No formal policy or censure motion was adopted at the meeting. The Mayor directed the developer to work with the City Manager and Councilmembers asked staff to prepare time for a fuller developer presentation at an upcoming meeting.
