Tuesday's East Laurinburg meeting turned into a shouting match with one town official even threatening to call police.

The incident started when East Laurinburg resident Rowe Warren had another resident — Mary Franz — read a letter during the board meeting.

Warren said he disagreed with how the town had handled the storm cleanup last summer and the way in which the town's new tax was adopted.

"You stated that Raleigh authorized you to do this," Warren's letter said. "Maybe North Carolina does things different, but in Florida, you had to advertise in the paper that the upcoming vote on taxes would be held in 30 days at the voting precincts."

He also questioned how NC DOT funds were being used.

Several members on the board appeared visibly upset by the remarks.

Commissioner Robert Lee Wallace questioned Warren about how long he had been a resident of East Laurinburg, and whether he was informed about town events.

"We have two people here from Florida who don't know what's going on," Mayor Randy Miller said.

Miller told the two residents not to call him with any more questions or concerns.

When people at the meeting began openly arguing with the commissioners and each other, the mayor adjourned the meeting.

After the meeting, Mayor Pro-Tem Marshall Stevens said that the town has been torn apart because of Warren and Franz. He also called Warren a liar.

Stevens later claimed to have called law enforcement officials to remove Warren from the town building. It is unclear if they ever arrived.

Several residents who attended the meeting seemed shaken up by Tuesday's events.

Maria Stevens said she's sick of the bickering.

"I've lived in East Laurinburg for 25 years," she said. "I raised my children here."

She hopes the arguing can stop and the town can go back to normal so she can raise her grandchildren there.