Cary Town Manager Resigns, Receives $194,832 Severance Pay

Cary officials announced on December 15 that town manager Sean Stegall had resigned and would receive $194,832 in severance pay. Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton was elevated to interim town manager as the council moves to address concerns about spending, transparency and workplace culture that surfaced after a public records request.

Town leaders said Stegall had been placed on paid administrative leave on November 21 after documents showed expenses and transactions that many council members said they had not been informed about. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht described the past weeks as emotionally difficult. "It has been hard, very hard for me, not being able to share more than we have up to this point," he said. "It's been sad and emotional to unwind our relationship with Sean because for many of us, we saw Sean as our friend, not just simply an employee."

Weinbrecht outlined three broad issues that prompted the leave and the subsequent resignation. He cited over the top spending and inadequate financial reporting, a lack of transparency with the full council staff and citizens, and what he described as an unhealthy work environment. "There may be more to learn, so we have hired a law firm specializing in employment investigations to make sure we are fully aware of any problems, so that something like this will never happen again in Cary," Weinbrecht said. He added that the firm s work would likely take several months and pledged ongoing updates. "We will keep you updated on our findings," he said. "I was absolutely stunned about the revelations that we've had, and what's come forward so far. I'm sick. I'm sad, and I'm mad."

Documents reviewed by town officials showed specific concerns, including a 2023 out of state conference in Austin where Stegall stayed at a different four star hotel at a cost of about $680 a night, totaling more than $3,000 for four nights, and paid for a luxury car service to and from the airport. Records also show the town purchased two parcels of land near Cary Elementary School for more than $1 million despite the assistant town manager s recommendation against the purchase, and that not every council member was aware of the transaction. The town also confronted a proposal that would have covered a councilmember s graduate degree at a cost exceeding $37,000. Councilmember Lori Bush said she repaid that money and defended her actions in part by citing prior guidance. "I accepted the offer with the honest belief that it aligned with the town’s approach to ongoing learning," she said. "Recently, I learned that this proposal to pay had not been shared with all of our council."

State Auditor Dave Boliek announced he would review the town s policies to determine whether a formal audit or investigation is warranted after several citizens contacted the auditor s tip line. Attempts to reach Stegall by phone and at his home were not successful.

For Wake County residents, the developments raise questions about oversight and governance at a time when local budgets and land use decisions directly affect schools neighborhoods and taxes. The interim manager will be charged with steadying daily operations while the council considers long term leadership and awaits the results of outside reviews.