Holderman named interim boro management consultant | News, Sports, Jobs

PHOTO PROVIDED
Don Holderman, right, is pictured with Mayor Gene “Buddy” Johnson during his retirement party in Oct. 2024.

BELLEFONTE — In a special meeting on Wednesday, Bellefonte Borough Council appointed Don Holderman as a consultant to handle borough manager duties on an interim basis.

Holderman, the borough’s former assistant manager, retired from that position in October 2024. A Penn State graduate with a Master of Public Administration, he worked for the Bellefonte Borough from April 2008 until his retirement last year. When he retired in October, several council members and Mayor Gene “Buddy” Johnson praised his expertise and long-standing service to the borough.

As assistant borough manager, he was involved in numerous park and recreation projects, public facility and infrastructure upgrades, economic development initiatives, utility improvements and council and administrative enhancements.

In his role, he will oversee the day-to-day operations of municipal government. The manager is responsible for finance and budgeting, purchasing and all manner of administrative borough matters. In addition to directing all municipal departments, Holderman will report to Borough Council, implement its policies and serve as a liaison between the Council and residents.

He will step in to replace Ralph Stewart, who recently retired as borough manager. Stewart left his role on Friday, March 28, after serving as Bellefonte’s borough manager for 24 years.

Stewart was recently named interim executive director of the Centre County Airport Authority and is set to begin that role on July 1. He will replace James Meyer, who has served as the airport authority’s executive director since 1997.

Council voted unanimously to formally designate Holderman as a consultant and to remove Ralph Stewart as a signer from all associated accounts due to his retirement.