Cary Council Emergency Meeting — July 16, 2026

The Cary, NC Council held an emergency meeting on July 16, 2026, primarily to address findings from a state auditor's report and an independent investigation by the law firm Womble Bond Dickinson concerning financial mismanagement under the former town manager, Sean Stegall. The council discussed issues including the elimination of key finance positions, lack of adherence to policies, and extravagant spending such as unauthorized purchases and misuse of credit cards. They highlighted steps taken to improve transparency and oversight, including reinstating the internal auditor position and reducing the number of procurement credit cards. The council acknowledged the need for cultural and procedural reforms to prevent future abuses and committed to implementing recommendations from both reports, which are publicly available on the town's website. They also addressed concerns about the impact of these reforms on taxpayer costs and emphasized ongoing efforts to maintain fiscal responsibility and public trust.