DURHAM, N.C. — The Durham County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday night to rehire its former manager.

After meeting behind closed doors for several hours on Monday and Tuesday, the group voted to give Mike Ruffin another run at the job.

"There's a lot of forgiveness in that room and we owe it to the county to work together," Ruffin said.

Ruffin was fired in September by a 3-2 vote.

After November's election, only one opponent remained on the board.

County commissioner Philip Cousin claimed Ruffin failed to address problems in the county's human resources department.

With the addition of two new members, the Board of Commissioners decided to make amends.

Cousin voted not to rehire Ruffin, but accepts the outcome.

"I will support that decision and work with the manager and move forward," he said.

"Neither of us are going be the type of gentlemen that are going to harbor the resentment you often see in a situation like this," Ruffin said. "It's all behind us."

Despite the split in numbers, commissioners say they all respect the decision.

Ruffin starts Monday, but his reappointment comes with two conditions.

He will have to communicate better with the board and he will have to restructure the human resources department.