Hagerstown Mayor and Council to Convene Work and Special Sessions on May 12

Hagerstown residents are invited to attend upcoming public hearings and observe council discussions during a combined Work Session and Special Session of the Mayor and City Council, as detailed in an official announcement. The sessions, scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. on May 12, 2026, will take place in the Council Chamber at City Hall, located at 1 East Franklin Street. These meetings will be televised and recorded for public access.

The Work Session, commencing at 5:00 p.m., will feature several presentations and discussions crucial to the city’s operations and future planning. The Washington County Arts Council, represented by Board Member and Incoming President Kathryn Gratton and Executive Director Chris Brewer, will provide an update. Following this, Oren Reed, Information Technology Manager, and Rylee Ely, GIS Coordinator, will deliver a briefing on the city’s Geographic Information System (GIS) program. A significant portion of the Work Session will be dedicated to the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Presentation. City Administrator Scott Nicewarner, Chief Financial Officer Michelle Hepburn, and Accounting and Budget Manager Brooke Garver will present the proposed budget and outline the upcoming discussion schedule for this critical financial document. Later in the Work Session, City Engineer Jim Bender will present an application for “Safe Streets for All,” and City Administrator Scott Nicewarner will discuss the next steps regarding Charter Review. A break is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The Special Session, designated as the 36th Voting Session, will begin at 7:00 p.m. This session includes several important public hearings. Residents will have the opportunity to provide input on the FY 2027 Real Property Tax Rate, which will begin on July 1, 2026. Additionally, public hearings will be held for the FY 2027 Proposed Budget, covering the period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, and for proposed changes to Water and Wastewater Rates. Testimony for these public hearings will be accepted in person. Individuals wishing to speak must sign in at City Hall before the hearings commence, and each speaker will be allotted three minutes.

Following the public hearings, the Special Session will proceed with the introduction of several ordinances. These include an ordinance related to the Tax Rate effective July 1, 2026, an ordinance for the FY 2026/2027 Budget, and ordinances to establish Water Rates for FY 2027 through FY 2031 and Wastewater Rates for the same period. The council will also consider the approval of the sale of a 2003 KME XMFD Pumper Truck and an appointment to the Hagerstown Housing Authority, specifically for a term expiring August 30, 2028, for Ronald Brezler, Jr. The Special Session is scheduled to conclude around 7:55 p.m. with comments from the City Administrator and Mayor and Council, followed by adjournment.

Residents are encouraged to review the full agenda and meeting packet, which is available online at http://www.hagerstownmd.org/government/agenda. The meetings are accessible to the public, with opportunities to voice concerns and provide feedback on key fiscal and operational matters affecting the city.

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

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