The Town of Black Diamond has hired a new Chief Administrative Officer but at the same time have lost their mayor.

Sharlene Brown has officially taken over the role left by retiring Joanne Irwin.

Brown says she's looking forward to crossing over from politics to the planning side of Town business.

"Since 1998 I've been involved with the Town on different capacities, 1998 to 2007 I was a councillor and in 2008 I became mayor," she says. "So now it's moving from the creating policy and directions to the implementation side and I'm looking forward to that."

Brown's resignation was accepted by Black Diamond Council prior to appointed her as CAO and Brown says she is proud of not just her accomplishments within the Town but also council's as well.

"There was the implementation of the main street program, focus on tourism, bringing the community more together and we've come to more of a team aspect to council members so that's changed."

She says council has grown immensely since she first sat in a councillor's chair 18 years ago.

"Everybody has input and a lot of community consultation pieces. We've moved in the area of sustainability as far as being energy sufficient and utilizing other energies."

A by-election will be held soon, no details have been released as of Monday afternoon.