Trio of aldermen take oaths in Black Mountain

Archie Pertiller, Jr., Pam King and Doug Hay begin terms

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
December 14, 2020

Doug Hay, left, Pam King and Archie Pertiller, Jr. were sworn in to begin their terms on the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen, Dec. 14. Photo by Fred McCormick

The terms of three newly elected officials on the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen are now underway. 

Incumbent Archie Pertiller, Jr. and newcomers Pam King and Doug Hay were each sworn into office by Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court Steven Cogburn, Dec. 14, in the opening moments of the board’s regular monthly meeting. 

Mayor Larry Harris opened the meeting by reading proclamations for outgoing board members Maggie Tuttle and Jennifer Willet.

Maggie Tuttle expresses appreciation for the opportunity to serve as alderman and vice mayor in her final meeting as a member of the board. Photo by Fred McCormick

The mayor expressed appreciation from the town for the service of Tuttle, the vice mayor who did not seek re-election in November. Tuttle has held a seat on the board since 2011. 

Harris also thanked Willet, who received 1,995 votes in the election after being appointed in March to fill a vacant seat on the board.

Tuttle and Willet were declared “good, loyal and faithful servants of the Town of Black Mountain” in the respective proclamations.

Jennifer Willet, who was unable to retain her seat on the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen in the November election, wishes the new board members well before they are sworn into office on Dec. 14. Photo by Fred McCormick

Former mayor Don Collins, who resigned his seat in August, submitted a citizen comment following the proclamations. He thanked the board for their service, and specifically Tuttle for her leadership. 

His statement, which was read by Town Manager Josh Harrold, continued by congratulating the new board members and encouraging them to continue focusing on fiscal management.

“Keep your tax rates low, spend wisely and make decisions for the whole town, not the squeaky wheels,” his statement read. “I wish you all the best and thank you for your service; we count on you.”

The two newest members of the board were sworn in after the adoption of the consent agenda. 

King, who previously served on the town’s greenway commission, recited the oath first, followed by Hay and Pertiller.

Archie Pertiller, Jr. swears an oath as a newly elected alderman in Black Mountain. Photo by Fred McCormick

The three candidates each received more than 2,400 votes in the November election, which was the first in town history to be held in an even-numbered year. Pertiller, who was appointed to the seat vacated when Harris was selected by the board to fill the remainder of the mayor term after Collins resigned, led the race with more than 2,600 votes. 

Harris welcomed and congratulated King and Hay, and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to continue working with Pertiller.

Pam King, who was elected to the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen in November, recites the oath of office with Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court Steven Cogburn. Photo by Fred McCormick

Hay was grateful for the opportunity to serve the town, he said in a comment during the final moments of the meeting.

“It’s an honor and responsibility I don’t take lightly,” he said. “I think we have a wonderful and strong board and I look forward to working with each of you.”

Newly elected Black Mountain Alderman Doug Hay is sworn in by Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court Steven Cogburn on Dec. 14. Photo by Fred McCormick

The new board followed the tradition of appointing the alderman who received the most votes in the previous election to fill the role of vice mayor. Ryan Stone, who served as vice mayor from 2015 - 2017, received a 5-0 vote to the seat.

The board also appointed representatives to outside agencies like the Land of Sky Regional Council, the French Broad Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium and others. Former alderman candidate Matt Turner was appointed to fill a vacancy on the historical preservation commission and Kathy Phillips was also a unanimous choice to fill a seat on the planning board.

A public hearing to consider a voluntary annexation of 16 acres of land on Brooks Cove Road and the rezoning of the parcel from residential to urban residential was set for the board’s Monday, Jan. 21 regular meeting. 

The board will also begin reviewing the appointment process for aldermen and mayor vacancies in the town charter in the coming months, following a request from Stone. Harris asked the town clerk to poll the board for a date to discuss the issue, which was a key topic in recent election campaigns.