Mayor Pledges Televised Work Sessions as Records Raise Questions About Manager's Leave

The Cary Town mayor announced at the Dec. 9 work session that the town's work sessions, quarterly meetings and retreats will be televised and streamed for public viewing, calling the move a step toward greater transparency and accountability.

"Transparency and accountability are extremely important to me and my colleagues," the mayor said, explaining the decision follows a public-records request that produced receipts, emails and other documents indicating certain key information had not been shared with the full council and that decisions had been made without council approval. The mayor said they could not provide more detail about the town manager's leave because state law currently prevents disclosure, but pledged to share additional information as soon as legally permitted.

Why it matters: making meetings publicly accessible broadens oversight of council processes and may affect how future personnel or administrative decisions are handled. Council members who spoke at the meeting echoed the mayor's emphasis on openness and welcomed the streaming plan as an example of the council's commitment to public access.

The announcement came at the start of a work session in which the council reviewed several governance policies. After the public-policy review, a motion to enter a closed session under North Carolina statutes to consult with attorneys was made and carried unanimously; the council cleared the room and paused the stream.

The mayor said the town will release more information about the records and any related decisions as soon as it is permitted by law. In the meantime, the streaming rollout is scheduled to continue for future work sessions and quarterly meetings.