news-record.com

GREENSBORO — When approached by the Board of Commissioners chairman and vice chairman and told that his position would be eliminated, then-Deputy County Manager Ben Brown said he was shocked at the news.

Brown resigned Friday, a day after former County Manager David McNeill suddenly announced his retirement.

“I was told that the majority of the board felt that they would go in a new direction,” Brown said. But he also said they didn’t give him much more information on what that direction would be.

When asked, Chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston didn’t offer much detail on the reason for Brown’s departure, but restated that he and a majority of the commissioners plan to restructure departments in the county.

“I just told him that we would be abolishing the position, and at this point, we feel that it would be the best for the county,” Alston said.

He and Vice Chairman Steve Arnold have been meeting with county employees in the weeks since they were named chairman and vice chairman.

Brown said he still wants to work in the county and plans to apply for McNeill’s job when it opens up.

“I don’t want to burn any bridges,” he said.

Brown’s last day is Dec. 31, but he will stay on as a consultant for four months starting Jan. 1. He will be paid $13,767 per month.

McNeill’s last day is Jan. 1. He also will stay on as a consultant for six months beginning Feb. 1. He will be paid $14,942 monthly.

“We felt that if we needed them, because of the fact of their history with the county, for that four-month period and that six-month period, we would have them there,” Alston said.

The consultant packages are equal to the men’s salaries, without benefits.

As deputy manager, Brown filled in as county manager when McNeill was unavailable.

Brown’s apparent replacement is human resources Director Sharisse Fuller, who will fill in for interim County Manager Brenda Jones Fox when she is unavailable.