Black Mountain Town Council announces search for interim town manager

Special call meeting and closed session begins discussion following resignation of Josh Harrold

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
December 15, 2025

The Black Mountain Town Council holds a Dec. 15, special call meeting to discuss the resignation of the town manager. Photo by Fred McCormick

A special called meeting and subsequent closed session held, Dec. 15, by the Black Mountain Town Council addressed the recent resignation of the municipality’s top administrator.

The discussion followed a Dec. 10 announcement that Josh Harrold, the town manager since 2018, was resigning from the position, effective, Monday, Jan. 26.

The meeting began at 8:30 a.m., with councilmembers Alice Berry, Archie Pertiller, Jr., Doug Hay, Ryan Stone and mayor Mike Sobol in attendance. Pam King was out of town on a pre-planned trip.

The board entered closed session with attorney Susan Russo Klein, pursuant to N.C. General Statute 143-138.11, which allows public bodies to hold such meetings for the purposes of discussing an employee’s qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, appointment or removal, and statute 143-318.11(a)(3), protecting attorney-client privilege.

The closed session lasted approximately one hour.

Upon re-entering the open meeting, Hay explained the purpose of the Monday morning meeting.

“We met to discuss the town manager Josh Harrold’s resignation, which was effective Jan. 26,” he said. “That has triggered a 45-day planning period. This council is prepared, and moving quickly, to go forward with hiring an interim town manager during that period.”

Elected officials intend to seek the assistance of a firm when choosing a permanent manager, Hay added.

“We will continue meeting and updating the public as progress is made,” he said.

The town council will hold another special called meeting at 4:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19, in which to continue discussions related to personnel.

In a press release from the town, Harrold stated he believes it is the right time for new leadership to guide the next phase of the town’s growth and progress. His values no longer align with the council’s values, the town manager added, while expressing his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and supporting elected officials and staff through the process.

Assistant Town Manager Jessica Trotman will not serve in the role on an interim basis, but plans to “support day-to-day leadership and ensure continuity during the transition,” the announcement stated.