Assistant Planning Director Ann Ayers was fired effective Tuesday, Aug. 17, Town Manager Mark Williams told the mayor and town commissioners that night during a closed session following the regular town board meeting.
          Williams said he told the board because he knew several of them had worked with Ayers. Assistant Editor David Leone with The Wake Forest Weekly had received a tip earlier, confirmed the firing with Williams Wednesday and published it in the Aug. 19 issue.
          Williams said this week Ayers will be paid for her accrued vacation time. He cited the confidentiality of personnel matters in refusing to say the reason for the firing.
          “I did seek legal counsel,” Ayers said this week and added she has no comment about anything further.
          She was hired in October of 2003 and became popular with residents for her enthusiasm, eagerness for hard work and expertise in several areas. She was the liaison staff member for the urban forestry board and had been the staff person for the greenway plans, the downtown streetscape project, commercial development, the transportation update, and this summer’s community garden. Most recently she had worked with the steering committee for the public art initiative and the resulting ordinance.