Pembroke is in the market for a new city administrator after asking Frank Etheridge on Friday to resign from the post - a decision that seems to have been made without a City Council meeting.

"I was visited by the city attorney, who came to me Friday and asked for my resignation or the board would meet in closed session to fire me," Etheridge told the News this morning.

Etheridge, who has held the city's top position since April 2009, said he attempted to talk to council members to no avail and decided to resign.

"Forcing them to meet in closed session when their decision was already made seemed futile," he said.

Mayor Judy Cook said she could not comment on Etheridge's resignation or whether the council met to discuss the matter because it is a personnel issue.

City attorney Carol Miller was not immediately available for comment.

For more, pick up a copy of the March 23 edition of the News.