Board Fires Pittsboro Town Manager

Pittsboro, N.C. — Less than a week after he was charged with resisting arrest, the town Board of Commissioners on Monday night fired Town Manager Sam Misenheimer.

Mayor Randy Voller said the board met in a closed session, discussed the case, and decided to terminate Misenheimer, 42, immediately. Town Attorney Paul S. Messick Jr. will be acting town manager, Voller said.

A North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper pulled over Misenheimer last Tuesday morning after he allegedly ran a stop sign on Thompson Street and was uncooperative, authorities said. He also was charged with driving with a suspended license after being ticketed for speeding seven times since 2003, authorities said.

In a letter to WRAL News last Wednesday, Misenheimer denied that he resisted arrest, claiming the Highway Patrol trooper used unnecessary force on him. He also blamed the arrest on a stalker calling authorities to report his suspended license.

Voller said Misenheimer had visited his home Sunday with a letter of resignation. The board did not accept the terms Misenheimer proposed, Voller said.

Misenheimer has been on administrative leave from his $65,000-a-year job since his arrest.

The town hired Misenheimer as town manager last May after serving as interim manager for five months. He had been let go from at least one other town manager job in the past, Voller said, but came highly recommended to Pittsboro.

"I think his performance and his belief in local government is strong," Voller said. "It's just an unfortunate circumstance that I think is going to lead us in a new direction. I'm sorry for that. People make mistakes."