Cole will be stepping down as town manager Oct. 31

Janice Cole will be stepping down as Hertford’s town manager at the end of October.

Cole, who was named town manager in January 2023 and had served as interim manager a year before that, submitted her letter of resignation to members of Town Council and Mayor Ashley Hodges on Aug. 1.

“I am most appreciative of the opportunity that you have given me to make a difference in Hertford and for your cooperation and support throughout my brief tenure,” Cole said in the letter, a copy of which was provided to The Perquimans Weekly. “However, at this stage of my life working a full-time job is not conducive to the attention that I should be giving to my overall well-being.”

Cole said she was sending her letter to each councilor and to the mayor “so that you will have a brief chance to absorb it and consider how you want to proceed before the news of my resignation hits social media.”

Cole was not available for an interview on Wednesday, but said in an email that she does not plan to return to the practice of law. Both a former U.S. attorney and former state District Court judge, Cole ran her own law practice prior to taking the job as interim town manager in January 2022. She also served several terms as a Perquimans County commissioner.

Cole said she does plan “to make myself available” to perform contract work for the town on special projects. She said her initial plan was to stay with the town for “about six months to get things organized.”

Town Council voted Monday night to accept Cole’s resignation, effective Oct. 31. Hodges said Cole announcing her resignation now will give Town Council time to start looking for her successor.

“Town Manager Janice Cole has meant a tremendous amount to the Town Council, town staff, and our residents, and we’ll be working to develop a transition plan and formal recognition ceremony over the coming weeks,” he said in a brief statement Wednesday.

The town of Hertford has made numerous strides forward under Cole’s leadership, including receiving millions of dollars in grant funds for town infrastructure projects. The town also was removed in May from the N.C. Local Government Commission’s Unit Assistance List. The town had been on the list for several years because of its financial health and past fiscal management practices.