Newly elected Black Mountain mayor and town council members installed
Pertiller named vice mayor as Sobol, Berry and Christy begin terms
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
December 13, 2022
Mike Sobol, who last served as mayor of Black Mountain in 2017, recites the oath of office, Dec. 13, as he begins a new term in the office. Photo by Fred McCormick
A trio of newly elected Black Mountain officials took their seats behind the dais, Dec. 12, as the town council convened for its regular monthly meeting.
The four-year terms of Mayor Mike Sobol and Town Council Members Bill Christy and Alice Berry began after Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court Steven Cogburn administered the oath of office to each. Archie Pertiller, Jr., who won his seat on the board with more than 2,600 votes in 2020, was installed as vice mayor.
The meeting was convened by former mayor, Larry Harris, who was defeated by Sobol in the Nov. 8 General Election. Seated to his right was former Vice Mayor Ryan Stone, who did not seek a third term in the race. Harris and Stone were both recognized by the town for their service in the opening minutes of the meeting.
The Black Mountain Town Council applauds outgoing mayor, Larry Harris, Dec. 12, as his term in the office ends. Photo by Fred McCormick
“Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Town Council of the Town of Black Mountain that Larry Harris is hereby acknowledged as a good, loyal and faithful public servant of the Town of Black Mountain,” Stone read from a proclamation acknowledging the outgoing mayor. “This proclamation expresses deep appreciation on behalf of the governing body and the citizens of the town for the valuable service you have rendered, and provided.”
Harris, who served a term on the town council in the 1980s before returning to the board in 2013, read a similar proclamation recognizing Stone.
“It has been an honor, especially these last couple of years, serving with this board and Vice Mayor Stone,” said Harris. “I wish you all the best.”
Harris also recognized the Owen High School cross country and soccer teams, each of which won state championships in the fall. The final presentation of the evening was a Life Saving Award, acknowledging the heroic actions of Black Mountain Volunteer Firefighter and Ridgecrest Summer Camps Executive Director Phil Berry.
Phil Berry, center, who serves as a volunteer firefighter with the Black Mountain Fire Department is recognized, Dec. 12, for his life saving actions on an international flight. Black Mountain Fire Chief John Coffey, right, and Black Mountain Volunteer Firefighter Association President Justyn Whitson presented Berry with a commendation and medal. Photo by Fred McCormick
“On Aug. 17, 2022, while aboard American Airline flight 60, over the Pacific Ocean, the airline attendants were alerted to a medical emergency,” BMFD Chief John Coffey read from a written commendation. “Without a response from a doctor to assist with an an anaphylaxis reaction, firefighter Phil Berry rushed to administer aid, obtaining an epipen and administering medication, undeniably saving the individual’s life.”
Berry’s actions were commended by the town, which expressed gratitude for his continuing service in the community.
Alice Berry is sworn in by Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court Steven Cogburn, Dec. 12, as the Black Mountain Town Council held its final regular meeting of 2022. Photo by Fred McCormick
Following the recognitions and approval of the consent agenda, the town council recessed for five minutes, allowing outgoing officials to step down while newly elected member prepared to take the oath. Sobol and Berry took their seats after being sworn in, while Christy, who was appointed in 2021 to fill a vacancy on the board, returned to his.
Bill Christy, who has served on the Black Mountain Town Council since 2021, takes the oath of office, Dec. 12, as he begins his first full term on the board. Photo by Fred McCormick
The new council’s first order of business was to appoint a vice mayor, which was followed by Pam King’s nomination of Pertiller and a 5-0 vote affirming the recommendation.
Archie Pertiller, Jr. is sworn in as vice mayor of Black Mountain, Dec. 12, by Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court Steven Cogburn. Photo by Fred McCormick
The board then certified the 2022 election results and appointed representatives to multiple advisory boards and committees in the area, including the Land of Sky Regional Council Board of Directors, the French Broad Metropolitan Planning Organization Board of Directors and the Friends of the Fonta Flora Trail Board. Local organizations, including the Black Mountain Center for the Arts and the Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce, were also included in the list of committees.
The town council will hold its next regular monthly meeting in town hall at 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.