Hagerstown Mayor and City Council to Convene Work Session and Executive Session on April 14

The Mayor and City Council of Hagerstown are scheduled to hold a Work Session and Executive Session on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall, located at 1 East Franklin Street. This session will cover a range of topics critical to the city’s development, fiscal planning, and community initiatives. The meetings are open to the public, will be televised, and recordings will be made available.

The Work Session agenda includes discussions on several key areas. Kicking off the session at 1:00 p.m., Antwon Jones and Curtis Hovis, CEO of Sunburst Solar LLC, will provide information regarding solar energy. Following this, at 1:15 p.m., the Mayor and City Council will hear from the Landlord Association concerning rent stabilization. A significant portion of the afternoon will be dedicated to financial matters, with a FY 2027 Budget Review scheduled to begin at 1:35 p.m., featuring presentations from City Administrator Scott Nicewarner, Chief Financial Officer Michelle Hepburn, and Accounting & Budget Manager Brooke Garver.

Later in the Work Session, at 2:45 p.m., Eric Deike, Director of Public Works, will present a Memorandum of Understanding regarding Locomotive 202 with the Hub City Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Inc. Economic development initiatives will also be a focus, with an update on the Invest Hagerstown Program for FY’26 at 2:55 p.m. by Economic Development Specialist Chris Siemerling. Following this, at 3:05 p.m., Jill Thompson, Director of Planning and Economic Development, and Chris Siemerling will provide a recommendation to suspend new property renovation applications for the Partners in Economic Progress (PEP) Program.

Infrastructure and zoning matters are also on the agenda. At 3:15 p.m., City Engineer Jim Bender will discuss the Northern Avenue Sidewalk Replacement Project. A review of a Letter of Clarification for Lorich Zoning (ZM-2025-02) is scheduled for 3:25 p.m., with Stephen Bockmiller, Deputy Director for Planning and Zoning Administration, leading the discussion. Finally, at 3:35 p.m., Matthew Ross, Planner, will present on the Cline Farm Annexation (A-2026-01), located at Eastern Blvd. & Jefferson Blvd.

The Work Session is expected to conclude around 3:45 p.m. when the Mayor and Council will move into an Executive Session. During this portion, they will vote to close the meeting to discuss matters permitted under the Open Meetings Act for executive or closed sessions. The official proceedings are anticipated to adjourn at approximately 4:30 p.m., following comments from the City Administrator and Mayor & Council. Residents interested in the details of the agenda and supporting documents can find them online at http://www.hagerstownmd.org/government/agenda. The city’s vision is to inspire an inclusive, business-friendly, and sustainable community, and its mission is to foster a thriving environment with enhanced quality of life through collaborative representation.

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

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