ASHEVILLE — Everyone stood and clapped that Friday in May 1997 — the county commissioners who had just announced her hire and the employees soon to have a new boss.

Some would never know the Wanda Greene federal investigators suspect she is today. Others would go on to learn firsthand the inside work of an executive exceptionally skilled at her job — and one who quietly consolidated and wielded great power.

With a strong performance in public interviews and early support from commissioners, Greene had become the first woman and the third person in Buncombe County's history to ever hold the position of county manager.

"I love being in this community and helping this community any way I can," she said at the time.

Greene would go on to hold the position for 20 years, overcoming heavy budget shortfalls and pushing the county, among other accomplishments, to the highest possible bond rating, an under-the-hood and underappreciated achievement. She would manage her career while being held up as a financial guru who largely enjoyed the favor of her elected bosses.

But Greene also publicly squabbled and privately battled with other county officials, slipped odd expenditures into budget votes and, as revealed earlier this month, used discretionary authority to grant incentives and six-figure bonuses to herself, family members and some of the already highest paid employees in the organization.

Few people are interested in talking about that now, with a federal criminal investigation underway. Investigators, most former colleagues, her neighbors and, through her attorney, Greene herself, have declined to comment.

But some have had things to say.

"It’s not a good thing to have a person with absolute power and very little oversight," Sheriff Van Duncan said in an interview earlier this month.

High marks from chairmen

David Gantt laughed as he spoke with a Citizen-Times reporter over the phone in late September, after the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed the existence of a criminal investigation into "Greene and others."

"Interestingly, the first action I ever did as a commissioner was to vote against Wanda Greene," he said. "I actually voted for someone else to be county manager. Probably of all the votes I did, that would be one of the ones I regret most. Because she turned out to be excellent."

Gantt served as a commissioner for 20 years and as chairman for eight. He oversaw an entirely Democratic board of commissioners until the creation of districts brought in a Republican minority. The board had been known for its brief meetings, little public discussion and rare disagreements.

Under Greene, commissioners were the among the highest paid in North Carolina. Data from the UNC School of Government report that during the 2016-17 fiscal year, Gantt made $37,650 as chairman and commissioners made $26,475.

That's in line with or even more than the state's largest metropolitan counties. In Mecklenburg County, for example, its chairman made $33,388 and its commissioners made $26,710; Wake County's chairman made $26,097 and its commissioners made $22,252.

Commissioners put great trust in Greene — and they would later express being stunned as revelations trickled out during the past two months.

The mother of an adult son and a fan of cross-stitching and John Grisham novels, Greene ascended to Buncombe County’s job in 1997. She started with an $89,000 annual salary.

Immediately, she was handed an expected multimillion-dollar shortfall.

But this is where Greene, a certified public accountant, thrived.

"She could squeeze a dollar out of a rock," former Health Department Director George Bond said the year she was appointed county manager.

In her first year, Greene narrowed the gap and gained a reputation for looking for trends while combing through county numbers.

"If nothing else, it is out of my own curiosity," Greene told the Citizen-Times in June 1997. "But I'm one of those auditors that is more concerned about what the numbers mean, rather than what column they're in."

A Western North Carolina native, Greene’s marriage to a U.S. Navy member took her across the U.S. She would earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota in Duluth and a master’s in public administration from California State University, Northridge, gaining years of professional municipal government experience before returning home.

In addition to becoming a CPA, she also would become a certified fraud examiner.

Greene worked in Ventura County, California, as internal audit supervisor and as associate administrator for its public hospital. There, she also would serve as an expert witness on white-collar crime for the district attorney.

Her return to WNC came when she took a job as director of internal audit at Guilford County. She eventually landed in Buncombe County, when she was hired in 1994 as assistant manager.

Greene early on emerged as a frontrunner in the four-month search for Buncombe’s next county manager. She beat 167 applicants.

At the time, then-Chairman Tom Sobol said the search process "simply enhanced my confidence in Wanda."

He still believes it.

"She was so easy to work with and had this open-door policy," Sobol said in September, as he reminisced on the lengthy public career he wrapped up more than 15 years ago.

"I'd need to call her once a day or go by the office once a day to keep abreast of what things were going on," Sobol said of his time as chairman. "And she always, always was very informative."

'She's brilliant with numbers'

Greene would lead Buncombe for two decades. That's nearly three times longer than the average tenure of city and county managers in the U.S., according to a survey conducted by the International City and County Manager Association.

The most recent voluntary salary data collected by the University of North Carolina School of Government shows statewide, the average is about five years.

Under Greene, the county in 2012 obtained a AAA bond rating, the highest possible issued by Standard & Poor's. Only five other counties in North Carolina at the time had such a rating, and the high mark meant lower interest rates and a vote of confidence in Buncombe finances.

It was the third upgrade since Greene started working for the county in 1994, and an impressive feat, Gantt said, as the county had borrowed money for major construction projects along the way.

Gantt said between projects like the courthouse, school upgrades and the yet-to-be-completed new health and human services building, Greene oversaw nearly $813 million in capital investments during her 20-year career.

"With Wanda’s leadership, she found a way to finance them and keep a AAA bond rating, which is the highest bond rating you can get," he said. "To do that while spending that kind of money was exceptional.

"The commissioners moved it, but we couldn’t do it without the money and without the leadership to put together deals."

Sobol described Greene as a friend. They typically meet about twice a year for lunch, he said, though it's been awhile since they last met.

He said he was "extremely" shocked to hear of the investigation.

"I feel very comfortable saying she never kept anything from me or from the board," Sobol said.

'There are many rumors floating around'

In her modest neighborhood of newly constructed, cookie-cutter homes, a man tended to the lawn of his hilly property, earlier this month. Some garage doors were ajar.

It seemed normal that the Arden subdivision where Greene has lived since 2015 was quiet.

Her neighbors were quiet, too.

More than a handful of the street’s residents either did not answer their door or declined to speak with a reporter about their neighbor. One said nothing other than that Greene had been good to her family. Another wouldn’t say whether he had seen any activity at her home in recent weeks.

A month prior, Greene had been disclosed as the subject of a federal investigation. But details have not been released. A statement from U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose in mid-August described it as "a law enforcement matter."

County officials largely have followed instructions from senior attorney Michael Frue not to speak publicly about the investigation.

"There are many rumors floating around," Frue said in his Aug. 18 memo to staff and commissioners. "None of us knows the whole story, and until this investigation is completed we cannot impede or obstruct the investigation."

Still, several actions have offered some information.

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Greene’s son, Michael Greene, resigned from his county job as business intelligence manager the day the investigation was confirmed.

Her sister Irene Wolfe was the county’s financial services manager, making a $106,051 annual salary. Four days after the investigation was confirmed, she took a $30,000 pay cut and switched to an accountant under a “voluntary reassignment,” according to public employee records.

Then, two days after commissioners approved a major overhaul of its personnel ordinance that revamped rules on bonuses, whistleblower policies and retirement programs, the county released salaries.

They showed that Greene, under budget ordinances passed by a majority of commissioners, had given herself broad discretion to award bonuses, incentives, raises and other additional pay. She always gave it to herself and often to her employed family members.

In her last six months of work, Greene made $508,081. Other high-paid employees stand to make more than $300,000 this year, according to records released to the Citizen-Times under a public records request.

Those documents also showed that under a so-called retention incentive program, Greene in two years gave out more than $1.4 million in additional pay among at least 10 employees, including herself.

The county released individual pay information for 34 employees under public records requests. It also disclosed the 123 recipients of a 1.5-percent pay raise, including Greene and others.

It also showed that 1.5 percent raises, approved last year by commissioners in an attempt to boost the pay of the county’s lowest-paid employees, went to Greene and others, some of whom already were making six-figure salaries.

Of the 123 recipients, the average salary was more than $64,000. Fifteen made more than $100,000. Thirty-seven made less than $40,000.

Officials have not yet released information on recent economic development deals, gift card policies and recent construction projects as requested by the Citizen-Times.

They have declined to release meeting minutes related to a closed session between commissioners and high-profile defense attorney Sean Devereux, whom they have not retained.

Commissioners closed the meeting under a provision allowing them to do so to seek legal advice from their attorney.

The Citizen-Times is continuing to pursue those records and is contesting the decision not to release meeting minutes, with the newspaper's belief the meeting was illegally closed because Devereux does not represent the county.

Thomas Amburgey, Greene’s attorney and a former assistant district attorney under Ron Moore, declined to comment.

‘If she didn’t like you, hard times would come’

Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger has been one of few officials willing to comment — but only in measured remarks despite having found himself the unexpected target of Greene’s disapproval.

"As the Register of Deeds of Buncombe County, it has always been my goal to provide great customer service at my office in the most user-friendly way, and to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars," Reisinger told the Citizen-Times on Oct. 5. "There were several occasions where the former county manager and I disagreed about how to provide the best service possible for our citizens and how to manage resources.

"It is my hope that out of this federal investigation will come a new era of transparency and good government."

Reisinger and Greene butted heads, perhaps the most public clash coming when Reisinger decided to close his office and call off work for his 17 employees during a storm that left 8 inches of snow.

Greene said at the time that Reisinger is not permitted to decide his office hours and that Buncombe's policy is to keep doors open despite snow. She decided to include in the next budget an extra day and a half of vacation to most of the county employees.

The move was fair for others who did report to work during the storm, according to both Greene and Gantt. To pay for that additional cost, Greene considered trying to claim his $50,000 performance bond.

Ultimately, the county did not go after the bond after being advised by county board attorney Bob Deutsch. Deutsch told the Citizen-Times that Reisinger had informally "taken a lot of heat for this" and had been criticized by several commissioners.

Reisinger did not mince words, however, after salary information was released showing significant increases to Greene's pay and that of others.

"For the raises that were intended to go toward our lowest-earning employees to pad the pockets of the county’s highest earners is an insult and a disgrace, especially in addition to other bonuses and incentives reported here," he said in a statement on social media.

In 2016, Greene tried to give herself another bump in benefits, when she included in a budget vote additional compensatory time for herself and Clerk of the Board Kathy Hughes.

It would have allowed her to cash in nearly $35,000 if she were to leave her job. Greene justified the boost by pointing to the extra hours she worked because she had to deal with Commissioner Mike Fryar, with whom she often clashed on expenditures.

Greene even accused Fryar in 2015 of nearly hitting her in the face with a phone. He denied the claim.

Greene ultimately returned the money and apologized for causing "a distraction."

Fryar declined to speak with the Citizen-Times for this story, citing the investigation. But in his remarks when she retired, he told the newspaper that "she brought a lot of good, but we also all bring bad things in whatever we’ve done."

Duncan also had public spats with Greene. Duncan, who received a retention incentive from Greene beginning in 2016, disagreed with Greene when he was elected over the use of county vehicles, budgeting and staffing.

Duncan said at the time that Greene was exerting too much control over the sheriff's department.

"It’s about control," Duncan said in 2008. "She wants me to do business the way the old administration did business."

He said Oct. 6 that he battled with Greene for three years, calling it “horrible,” though they eventually resolved their disagreements.

Greene was a capable county manager who helped alleviate the local impact of the economic downturn in the last decade, Duncan said.

"If she liked you, the world was fine," he said. "If she didn’t like you, hard times would come your way, and they weren’t anything of your own making."

As one of the recipients of the controversial retention incentives, Duncan said he took the offer because he was falsely informed by Greene that it would improve his state pension.

Now, Duncan said he is worried how the incentive may impact the perception of his tenure. And in hindsight, he said, it appears Greene may have padded the salaries of others to give cover while she helped herself.

"I remember how it was at work for about a year after I came into office," said Duncan, referring to the impact of former Sheriff Bobby Medford, who’s in federal prison for extortion and corruption charges.

"Nobody trusted Buncombe County, and I’m afraid that we’re heading right back there again. And it’s just a shame, because I don’t think that’s an accurate picture for what this county government does, what these employees do."

Key figures

Wanda Greene

After a 23-year career, 20 of which she served as county manager, Greene now is under federal investigation. She retired in June, about a month and a half before the investigation was confirmed.

Mandy Stone

Stone has worked for Buncombe County since 1981. She previously served as health and human services director and assistant county manager before replacing Greene this summer.

David Gantt

Gantt was first elected the Board of Commissioners in 1996. He would serve for 20 years, eight of which he was chairman. The Democrat had more oversight than the rest of the commissioners when it came to Greene, as some rules required the chairman would sign off on her bonuses or additional pay.

Irene Wolfe

Wolfe has been a county employee since 2000. She is one of two of Greene’s sisters employed by Buncombe, most recently switching her job from financial services manager to accountant. The voluntary reassignment came with a $30,000 pay cut.

Michael Greene

Greene is Wanda Greene’s son. He began working for the county in 2004, most recently as business intelligence manager. He resigned the same day the investigation into his mother was confirmed.

Van Duncan

Buncombe’s sheriff since first elected in 2006, Duncan publicly clashed with Greene when he came into office. After clashing over vehicle use policies and control over Duncan’s department, they ultimately resolved their differences. He’s one of at least 10 recipients of a controversial retention incentive.

Sean Devereux

A high-profile defense attorney, Devereux has met privately with commissioners and spoken with a federal prosecutor amid the Greene investigation. He has not been officially hired, and a North Carolina Press Association and the county disagree on whether Devereux’s closed session with the board is legal.

Records requested

Employment and pay records were released to the Citizen-Times and other news media Oct. 5, nearly seven weeks after first requested under North Carolina public records law. The county also has released employment contracts for employees, retention incentive agreements, information related to pay raises and correspondence with high-profile attorney Sean Devereux. As recently as Oct. 11, the county responded to employment records related to outgoing commissioners attorney Bob Deutsch.

It has declined to released minutes of the commissioners’ closed session with Devereux, maintaining that the meeting was legal under state law. It also said an Aug. 18 request for any litigation hold notice related to the investigation, issued to the county, should be forwarded to the U.S. attorney’s office, though officials have initially given that response before ultimately releasing documents.

Here are outstanding requests made by the Citizen-Times and the dates they were made:

Requested Sept. 1: The most recent internal or external county audit and the cost to conduct it.

Requested Sept. 18: Any financial documents related to the purchase and/or disbursal of gift cards.

Requested Sept. 18: Any contract or lease agreement with the FBI for use of county facilities.

Requested Sept. 18: Contracts, disbursements and loan documents, financial documents and emails related to the new swimming pool to be built on the Roberson High campus; the new health and human services building; the Deschutes property deal; Buncombe County Courthouse annex; and the county downtown parking deck.

Requested Oct. 6: Documents related to Irene Wolfe’s eligibility for the early retirement program and retention incentive

Timeline

May 30: Greene announces she’ll retire after 20 years of heading Buncombe County government.

June 30: Greene works her last day as Buncombe County manager. It also is the last day of the county’s fiscal year.

Aug. 1: County board discussed a personnel matter regarding a "governing body employee" during a closed session. No action was taken.

Aug. 17: U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose’s office confirms there is a federal investigation into Wanda Greene "and others." She releases no further details, calling it "a law enforcement matter." Public records would later show that her son, Michael Greene, resigned from his county position as business intelligence manager the same day the investigation is announced.

Aug. 18: In a statement, county attorney Michael Frue says Buncombe operations will not be impacted by the investigation.

Aug. 23: Public employee records released show that Wanda Greene’s sister, Irene Wolfe, takes a $30,000 pay cut under a "voluntary reassignment."

Sept. 5: In an hourlong closed session, county commissioners meet with attorney Sean Devereux. Though Devereux has not been hired, the county cites attorney-client privilege for the closed session to discuss what later was described as “a very general overview of the federal investigation process.” A state Press Association attorney says the meeting was illegal; the county says it’s not.

Sept. 8: The county declines to release minutes of the private meeting with Devereux, maintaining that the closed session was legal and that the minutes are not public record.

Sept. 11: Devereux indicates he’s spoken with federal prosecutor Richard Edwards in an email to Chairman Brownie Newman. His one-line email reads: "Is there a good time to call and update you on my conversations with AUSA Richard Edwards and (county board attorney) Bob Deutsch?"

Sept. 19: Commissioners formally appoint Tim Flora as chief finance officer, a position he’s already held for two years. Flora had been reporting directly to Budget and Management Services Director Diane Price, though state law mandates he works for the county board. Commissioners had given authority to Greene to appoint Flora when it was included in a June 2015 budget ordinance. Also, the county approves changes that give the external audit committee ultimate approval on the hiring or dismissal of the internal auditor, a position held by Terri Orange.

Oct. 2: Under a broad overhaul of the county’s personnel ordinance, commissioners rein back in previous powers of the county manager. They do away with early retirement and retention incentive programs, cap bonuses to $1,000 and require notification, and set up a hotline and anti-retaliation policy to encourage employees to speak up about potential violations. Also, Bob Deutsch, the commissioners attorney since 2013, submits a letter of resignation, effective at the end of the month. Deutsch cites his private law practice and a desire to reduce his workload as the reason for his departure. He later tells the Citizen-Times that his resignation is unrelated to the Greene investigation.

Oct. 5: County officials release years of salary data, showing that under the retention incentive and other programs, Greene made more than $500,000 in her last six months of work. The documents also show that Greene granted large bonuses and raises to herself, some of the highest-paid employees and her family members who worked for the county.

Oct. 6: The county releases an unsigned retention incentive agreement for Greene’s roughly $242,000 payment that she gave herself. It is described as a draft copy; the county does not have a signed copy on file.