The board of commissioners may by resolution adopt or discontinue the county-manager plan. If it adopts the county-manager plan, the board may, in the alternative:

(1)        Appoint a county manager to serve at its pleasure. The manager? shall be appointed solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications. He need not be a resident of the county or the State at the time of his appointment.

(2)        Confer upon the chairman or some other member of the board of commissioners the duties of county manager. If this is done, the chairman or member shall become a full-time county official, and the board may increase his salary pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-28

(3)        Confer upon any other officer, employee, or agent of the county the duties of county manager.

As used in this Part, the word “manager” includes the chairman or any member of the board of commissioners exercising the duties of manager or any officer, employee, or agent of a county exercising the duties of manager. (1927, c. 91, ss. 5, 8; 1973, c. 822, s. 1.)