Taneytown councilor Tillman resigns, cites family business and health concerns

Council member Tillman announced his immediate resignation from the Taneytown Mayor and City Council at the Sept. 8 meeting, saying increased demands from his family construction business and upcoming personal commitments mean he cannot continue in the role.

Tillman, who identified himself as co-owner of Georges on York and a principal in a family construction business, told the council: “Being a council member is a tremendous commitment of time and energy … I am stepping away from my role as city councilman with immediate effect.” He said family health concerns and a busy season at his bed-and-breakfast contributed to his decision.

The resignation creates a vacant council seat that the body agreed to fill through an application process the council discussed at the meeting. Councilors proposed opening applications the week of Sept. 8 through Nov. 30, inviting candidates to appear at a December workshop for interviews and planning to make a nomination at a later Monday meeting; the selected appointee would begin at the January workshop. The timeline and final procedural steps were presented as a council consensus and not as a formal, adopted rule.

Mayor (unnamed) acknowledged Tillman’s announcement and thanked him for his service. The council accepted the resignation by voice vote.

Tillman closed his remarks with a personal note explaining his reasons: “There is a reason the flight attendants tell you to put your oxygen mask on before you try to help other passengers. You must make sure that you are in a condition to continue forward before you can lift others.”

The council did not hold a public hearing or vote on the replacement process during the Sept. 8 meeting; council members said they will post the application timeline and further instructions once final details are confirmed.