So far, Cary leaders have remained tight-lipped about Stegall's future and questions regarding ethics surrounding Councilmember Lori Bush's tuition payments. The council spent nearly three hours in executive session, but no final decision was made regarding Stegall.
"It's not right," said Rebecca Lancer during public comment. "I implore you to do the right thing. You should be doing the right thing anyway, not just when the sunlight hits and there are a lot of people struggling."
Two of Thursday's speakers were former Republican Cary Town Council candidates, Renee Miller and Marjorie Eastman, who lost their election bids in November.
"I hope that Cary citizens will get to see that you have better insight into than what we've seen lately," Miller said during public comment. "Our town deserves to know that it is not being cheated and that our tax dollars are being spent properly."
A major concern for the community is the approval of $37,000 for Councilmember Bush's tuition for her master's degree in Northwestern University's Public Policy Program. Bush said she ultimately gave the money back after learning the gesture had not been shared with the entire council.
"I too find it absolutely egregious that thousands and thousands of dollars was given to a councilmember when so many people are struggling with affordability," Eastman said during public comment.
"I'm really concerned that maybe there's stuff going on that has had the light of day shining on it yet," Lancer said. "How much of this is going on that we don't know about? My tax bill keeps going up, and it's making it very difficult to stay here."
There are also questions surrounding Stegall's use of money.
Reports uncovered by the I-Team showed a nearly $2,500 hotel bill for an AI conference in Boston. At another conference in Texas, Stegall opted out of a hotel other town leaders were staying at and chose a more expensive one instead.
As for the tuition payment issue, Bush released a statement Thursday on Facebook: "I acted in good faith and followed the guidance I was given. I also recognize that the communication around this was not what it should have been. Going forward, I am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure expectations and processes are clearer and more openly shared."
ABC11 reached out to Stegall for comment but has not yet heard back. After the executive session, no official final decision on his future has been made just yet.