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In its report on Cary’s “excessive” spending, the N.C. Office of the State Auditor pointed to a culture of bullying under former Town Manager Sean Stegall.
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So on Thursday, Cary Town Council members will discuss new policies to better hold future town managers accountable.
Here’s what else will happen at Cary’s first regular council meeting since the state auditor released his report on July 16.
The town hired law firm Womble Bond Dickinson to review issues under Stegall from July 1, 2021, to Nov. 20, 2025, when the Town Council placed Stegall on administrative leave. Stegall resigned in December 2025 and is under investigation to determine whether any alleged financial misconduct was criminal in nature.
Womble Bond Dickinson will present its 272-page report Thursday. The firm made 21 recommendations — four about town Visa card, or p-card, spending, six about reporting financial information to the council and 11 about improving the workplace environment. The recommendations include:
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The town created a dashboard to track its progress on Womble Bond Dickinson’s recommendations and others made by the State Auditor’s Office and its annual independent internal audit completed by accounting firm Cherry Bekeart.
After hearing the recommendations from Womble Bond Dickinson and Cherry Bekeart, the Town Council will consider an anti-retaliation policy allowing town staff to report any concerns to any director, any attorney in the legal department or the internal auditor. Staff can remain anonymous in their reports.
While it is not listed as an agenda item for Thursday’s meeting, the council discussed hiring an external human resources consultant to conduct performance reviews of the town manager, town attorney and town clerk during a Tuesday work session.
Traditionally, Cary has relied on its own human resources department to conduct the reviews. But Mayor Pro Tempore Lori Bush, who introduced the proposed policy Tuesday, said having staff review the people they report to “puts them in a very precarious position.”
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This story was originally published July 23, 2026 at 8:18 AM.