# Town Council Special Called Meeting January 21, 2026

**Body:** Town of Black Mountain — Town Council
**Date:** January 21, 2026 8:30 AM EST (2026-01-21T08:30:00-05:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2488

## Summary

The Town Council of Black Mountain held a Special Called Meeting on January 21, 2026, to address urgent facility repairs, secure funding for disaster recovery assessments, and initiate leadership recruitment. The meeting focused on three primary agenda items: a budget amendment for the Lakeview Senior Center, an architectural services agreement for the Public Services Building, and the authorization of recruitment proposals for the Town Manager and Finance Director positions.

Regarding the Lakeview Senior Center, the Council voted to approve a budget amendment allocating an additional $40,000 from Helene’s unassigned fund balance. This decision brings the total project funding to $55,000, addressing unexpected costs for accessibility and code compliance repairs, particularly on the upper floor. Council members discussed the complexity of relocating plumbing and electrical work that violates current building codes and the need to ensure structural integrity. The Council emphasized a commitment to ensuring these repairs are completed safely for senior citizens, with the expectation that contractors will begin work as soon as responsive bids are received, potentially within five days of award.

The Council also approved a Master Services Agreement with Doma Corps and Associates (referred to as Domokur & Associates in some documents) to conduct comprehensive assessments of the Public Services Building. This action was taken because a previous FEMA assessment was deemed inadequate, hindering the town’s ability to secure proper reimbursement for flood damage. The firm will evaluate building damage and develop repair scopes according to FEMA requirements. The total cost of the eventual repairs remains unknown, with estimates ranging from $10,000 to a million dollars, depending on FEMA and insurance determinations. The Mayor emphasized the importance of accurate assessments to maximize federal reimbursement.

Finally, the Council authorized the Mayor to sign proposals with the Piedmont Pride Regional Council (also referred to as the Piedmont Triad Regional Council) to conduct searches for both the Town Manager and Finance Director. The Council expressed confidence in the firm’s ability to conduct a thorough search. It was noted that the proposal contained a typo regarding the title "project manager," which will be corrected before the Mayor signs the agreement. The Council acknowledged that costs have increased across the board, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, influencing the financial context of these decisions.

No public comments or testimony from community members were reported in the meeting summaries. Consequently, there was no public input to address during the discussion.

The Town Manager is authorized to execute necessary budget amendments and contracts for the Lakeview Center project. Doma Corps and Associates will begin assessments of the Public Services Building, with a task order for design work to be issued once the scope is finalized and approved by FEMA. Additionally, the Mayor will sign the corrected proposal with the recruitment firm, after which the search for new leadership will commence.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAZ5C8rWJhE
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/1766/segments

## Documents

- [agenda_2026-01-21.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2488?document=12933)
- [minutes_2026-01-21.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2488?document=12935)
- [agenda_packet_2026-01-21.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2488?document=12934)

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAZ5C8rWJhE)
- [CivicClerk](https://blackmountainnc.portal.civicclerk.com/#!/events/849)