Black Mountain town manager search to extend through year

Officials prioritize vacant finance director position, plan to re-advertise lead administrator role

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
July 30, 2026

The Town of Black Mountain will continue its search for a permanent town manager through the year, with plans to re-advertise the vacant position in December. Photo by Fred McCormick

An ongoing search for a lead administrator of the Town of Black Mountain, which began in January, will continue through the year, as elected officials plan to re-advertise the position in December. 

Extending the process, facilitated by the Piedmont Triad Regional Council, will allow the municipality to first select a permanent finance director, filling a position that has been vacant since last fall. 

The Black Mountain Town Council voted unanimously, in its first regular meeting of the year, to enter a $7,500 contract with PTRC, which is leading the executive search, following the resignation, announced last December, of the previous town manager. The municipality hired Richard Hicks to serve as interim town manager, while initially estimating a timeline of approximately six to eight months to complete the process of identifying a permanent administrator. 

A nearly $2 million shortfall in the budgeting process, prior to the the 2026-27 fiscal year, has been among multiple complicating factors in the process, according to Councilmember Ryan Stone, who noted the pool resulting from the first round of applications was smaller than anticipated. 

“Working with PTRC, they have done everything we expected, but our issue was that we had less applicants than when we hired the previous manager in 2018,” he said. “PTRC has a very thorough ranking system, which they use to evaluate the candidates, placing them in one of three tiers.”

Four finalists were selected from the top tier, added Stone, who is running unopposed for the mayor’s seat in the November election. 

“We were able to conduct one interview, after three applicants withdrew prior to that stage,” he said. “One withdrew due to a family-related issue, while the other two did not feel like the situation was right for them, at this time.”

Officials elected to extend the process in an effort to interview additional qualified applicants for the position.  

“There was general concern about a process in which you only interview one candidate,” Stone said. “The candidate we interviewed was very qualified and did a great job, but I get the reservation of council members that the public would want a more thorough process.”

The service agreement with PTRC is in place for the duration of the executive search, according to the council member. 

The town reported approximately 80 applicants for the vacancy in 2018, while 15 submitted resumes when the positions was advertised last spring. Uncertainty surrounding the budget and a sustained opening in the office of the town’s lead finance official were among the challenges faced by the town council in the first phase of search, according to Stone. 

“Given the budget issues, and the general appearance at our meetings where we have council and staff arguing, it did not present as appealing of a picture as we would like for prospective applicants,” he said. “PTRC felt like it would be better to take the next six months, let (Hicks) continue the process of hiring a finance director and see where we are from there.”

The town will retain the services of the interim manager through December, as the search for a permanent administrator continues. Officials amended the municipality’s contract with Hicks, following the July 13 regular monthly meeting of the board, according to Stone.

“Richard has been everything he was advertised as, and more. He has been professional, objective and he is evaluating issues quickly, bringing them to our attention and addressing them,” he said. “On top of that, he has taken over the finance director position and done a great job getting things resolved.”

Stone credits the interim manager, who is also serving as the acting finance director, for his leadership in both roles.

“He has brought better clarity for anyone who looks at our finances now, and more realistic projections,” the council member said. “There is also more accountability for the outgoing expenses.”

With three seats on the five-person town council and the mayoral position on the ballot in November, the municipality has established criteria to be considered when re-advertising the town manager position at the end of the year. The town will seek a public administrator with five years of experience, including three years of senior organizational management. A bachelor’s degree in public administration is required, while a master’s degree will distinguish a candidate. Leaders are also prioritizing communication and effective public representation of the town, as well as an ability to build new positive relationships in the community.

“Personally, I want someone who will be open, communicative with folks and willing to take suggestions from all sides,” Stone said. “I’d really like to keep building on the work of improving communication and transparency, which Richard has already started. Even when it’s things we don’t want to hear, he’s done a great job of bringing them to the council. I would like to see that continue in the future.”