City manager says he made a mistake

BELMONT, N.C. -- Belmont City Manager Barry Webb told colleagues he made a mistake after being arrested for driving while impaired Friday morning.

Troopers arrested Webb when he crashed his car at the intersection of N.C. 273 and R.L. Stowe Road in Belmont.

"This is a sad day for Barry Webb and for the City of Belmont," said Mayor Richard Boyce. "But it doesn’t change the fact that Barry is a very valued member of this community and member on our staff."

The mayor calls Webb a talented city leader but wants to make it clear that the DWI arrest is a serious issue. The mayor said Webb was at a civic function in his capacity as city manager just prior to the crash.

"He made clear that he would be willing to submit a resignation," Boyce added. "We agreed that we would deal with this as a personnel matter at our upcoming city council meeting."

The city council meets Monday.

This is the second government leader in our area arrested in recent weeks. On Sept. 17, Waxhaw Mayor Autumn Duane Gardner was arrested for driving under the influence.

Gardner has refused comment about her arrest publicly.

Webb was released from custody on an unsecured bond. He did not respond to a NewsChannel 36 interview request.