Hagerstown Council to Discuss Legislative Priorities, Property Acquisition, and Proposal to Lower City Voting Age to 16

The Hagerstown Mayor and City Council will convene for a work session on September 9, 2025, to address a range of significant issues impacting the city. The agenda includes discussions on legislative priorities, potential property acquisition, community development funding, and matters concerning public spaces, as well as presentation by the group “Vote 16.” Residents can expect updates on initiatives aimed at enhancing community engagement and infrastructure.

The work session will commence with proclamations recognizing Abilities Advocacy Month and Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. Following these acknowledgments, representatives from San Mar and Bester Community of Hope will provide an update on the ENOUGH initiative.

A key item on the agenda is a discussion of legislative priorities for the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session. Senator Paul Corderman, Delegate Matthew Schindler, and Annaston Cree, representing Congresswoman April McClain Delaney, are expected to engage with the Mayor and City Councilmembers on potential legislative actions. City staff have prepared a list of proposed priorities, including seeking express consent for annexations with differing zoning classifications, advocating for body cameras for code enforcement and parking officers, and proposing tax exemptions for the Hagerstown Fieldhouse. Other potential legislative topics include relocation or expansion of community gardens, required certification and registration for sober houses and property management companies in Maryland, public identification of principals in LLC filings for business licenses, and making Washington County a “shall” county for tax differential communications. The city is also exploring a bond bill for the relocation of the Washington County Historical Society to a downtown space. The Maryland Municipal League’s strategic initiatives, such as increasing municipal revenue options beyond property taxes and establishing all counties as “shall” counties regarding tax differentials, will also be discussed. The compiled legislative listing will be shared with the city’s lobbyist, the Community Coalition, and the Washington County delegation.

In terms of community development, the council will review the reallocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for a stage at Wheaton Park. Jim Bender, City Engineer, and Margi Joe, Community Development Manager, will present details on this proposal.

The city is also moving forward with a potential property acquisition at 149 N. Potomac Street. A purchase agreement is on the agenda for discussion, with Jill Thompson, Director of Planning and Economic Development, and Doug Reaser, Economic Development Manager, leading this item. Documents indicate a purchase price of $2,500,000, with a 60-day study period. The goal of this acquisition is to stabilize the property and return it to the private sector as a tax-contributing entity. An ordinance authorizing this purchase is slated for introduction on September 16, 2025, with passage anticipated on September 23, 2025, and an effective date of October 24, 2025. The purchase price is to be paid from General Fund reserves. The city anticipates that upon acquisition, the property will no longer be required for a public purpose and will be made available for sale to a private owner. An inspection agreement for this property is also scheduled for approval.

The agenda also includes a special session addressing the Weller’s Alley Fence Project. The council will first consider removing this item from the table, followed by a discussion of the project, and potentially the approval of a contract for decorative fence panels.

Finally, the council will hear from Zoe Burnett, Washington County Director of Vote 16, regarding the initiative to lower the voting age to 16 for local elections. The Vote 16 initiative advocates for this change to foster civic engagement and empower young residents to have a voice in decisions that affect them, citing successful implementations in other Maryland municipalities. The request is for the City of Hagerstown to consider proposing or supporting a charter amendment or local ordinance to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in municipal elections.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the City of Hagerstown.

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