Stotelmyer steps down after managing Williamsport 15 years

Dave McMillion, The Herald-Mail
·2 min read

After 15 years on the job, Williamsport Town Manager Donnie Stotelmyer has stepped down to work on the town's Main Street program.

Stotelmyer, who has received praise for his work on projects like Chesapeake & Ohio Canal improvements in town, left the post on Dec. 5. Now he is manager of Williamsport Main Street. Main Street is an approach to community revitalization that has been adopted by various town in the U.S.

Kathyrn Gratton had served as Williamsport Main Street manager, and Stotelmyer said Friday she is staying with the organization to assist him. Gratton will also focus on grant writing, he said.

Donnie Stotelmyer runs to the shore of the Potomac River during a previous fundraiser in Williamsport. He recently stepped down as town manager after 15 years, which won him praise such as his work with the C&O Canal on park improvements in town.
Donnie Stotelmyer runs to the shore of the Potomac River during a previous fundraiser in Williamsport. He recently stepped down as town manager after 15 years, which won him praise such as his work with the C&O Canal on park improvements in town.

Although Stotelmyer was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in October 2019, he said that's not the reason he stepped down from the town manager job. Stotelmyer said he will be 66 years old in January and the move is a part of "working my way toward retirement."

Stotelmyer said he and town officials had talked previously about him having the Main Street job and when Mayor Bill Green offered it to him, he decided to make the change. Williamsport Town Council members did not object, he said.

Stotelmyer said Gratton, who seemed to be fine with the transition, now has a title as "circuit writer" for the Maryland Rural Development Corp, a private non-profit group that helps meet the needs of rural, low-income households and communities.

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In a phone interview, Stotelmyer said he feels he's doing well in treating his Parkinson's Disease, although he said taking about 20 different medications for it is a challenge. Exercise helps control Parkinson's Disease and he stays up with a constant regiment.

Chad Rooney, who had been town manager for Smithsburg, became Williamsport's new town manager in August. He worked along with Stotelmyer to learn the new job until Stotelmyer moved over to his Main Street position.

Rooney, who was hired to his Smithsburg position in April 2021, was replaced by Brian Brandt, said Smithsburg Mayor Donnie Souders.

Souders said Brandt has about 30 years experience in areas such as wastewater management with the county and the city of Hagerstown. Currently, Brandt is working a "hybrid" position of overseeing Smithsburg's public works department and the day-to-day management of the town, according to Souders.

Shake-ups have been common in Smithsburg in recent years, including last year when Souders became the third mayor over a seven-month period after Richard Hetherington left the post.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Maryland towns Williamsport and Smithsburg get management shakeups