The Shepherdstown Council is pleased to announce that for the first time in its 261-year history, Shepherdstown has a town administrator. On March 21, 2023, the Shepherdstown Council voted to hire Stephanie Grove as the Town’s first administrator. Grove’s first day at town hall was on March 29, 2023, and she attended her first council meeting that evening, when the Council convened a special meeting to review applications for the Market House.
The Town Council began working on creating the Town Administrator position in late summer of last year. However, Mayor Jim Auxer indicated that the idea of hiring a town administrator has been informally discussed among the Council for years. “The Town is fortunate to have been able to attract such an experienced and competent candidate,” Auxer said.
Grove, a native of Jefferson County, has over seventeen years’ experience in Jefferson County local government service. She began her career as an assistant prosecutor in the Civil Division of the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s office, representing county boards and elected officials. After that, she served as the Jefferson County Administrator for six years and then briefly as the City Manager of Ranson. “I really got to know Stephanie during the pandemic, when she organized meetings between the County Commission and the County’s five mayors and other stakeholders in the County. During that time, she assisted me and the other mayors with navigating the various state and federal directives related to COVID-19. Both the Council and I are thrilled to have her join the staff here at Shepherdstown.”
