Hagerstown City Council to Convene for Regular Session, Addressing Annexations and Infrastructure Upgrades

The Mayor and City Council of Hagerstown are scheduled to hold a regular session on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. This meeting, the 46th voting session of the year, will include a public hearing, consent agenda items, and discussions on new business, including several potential annexations and infrastructure improvement projects. Residents can access the full agenda and meeting packet online at http://www.hagerstownmd.org/government/agenda.

The session will commence with the call to order by Mayor William B. McIntire, followed by an invocation and the Pledge to the Flag. Under announcements, the council will review the Rules of Procedure, which became effective November 18, 2025, and reiterate restrictions on cell phone use during meetings. Correspondence submitted for distribution to elected officials must be provided to the City Clerk, with an additional copy for the official record. The meeting schedule for September 2026 was also outlined, with a work session planned for September 8 and September 15, and the next regular session on September 22.

The council will consider appointments to various bodies, including Monique Broadus to the Hagerstown Housing Authority for a term expiring August 30, 2031. Additionally, Angela Yamashita, Sandrine Mabay, Sean Griffith, and Ian Marriott are slated for appointment to the Hagerstown Youth Council Partner Group, with terms running from August 25, 2026, through June 30, 2027. A proclamation is also on the agenda to honor the Hagerstown PONY League 14U All Stars World Series Team. Citizen comments will be accepted for thirty minutes, with speakers limited to three minutes each on matters germane to City of Hagerstown business. Pre-registration is required for those wishing to speak during the regular session and must be completed no later than twenty-four hours prior to the meeting’s start.

A significant portion of the meeting will be dedicated to public hearings and new business, particularly concerning annexations. The council will hold a public hearing on the 2025-2026 Annual Land Management Code Amendment Package ZT-2026-02. Under new business, several annexation plans and resolutions are up for consideration. These include proposals for Cumberland Valley Veterinary Clinic Real Estate, LLC, Meritus Health, Inc., and Burkholder Lane Acquisitions, LLC and McDade Road Acquisitions, LLC, involving properties at various addresses. The council will also review minutes from previous meetings held on July 14, July 21, and July 28, 2026.

The consent agenda features a range of expenditures across several city departments. Engineering proposals include funding for the Pavement Preservation Program for FY27-FY28 ($1,300,000.00), replacement of a traffic signal pole at Memorial Boulevard and Frederick Street ($85,000.00), pavement marking services ($80,000.00), CSX fees for closing the Summit Avenue RR Crossing ($62,194.00), and the purchase of two radar speed boards ($11,000.00). In Information Technology, renewals for Dossier Fleet Management ($11,483.13), HPD Police Mobile Software ($165,462.00), and ESRI GIS software ($42,200.00) are listed. The Police Department is seeking approval for ballistic vests ($43,477.00), a Nicolet Apex KBR unit ($29,600.00), and blanket funding for camera system maintenance and expansion totaling $250,000.00. Public Works seeks a preventive maintenance agreement for the Ice Rink cooling tower ($10,480.00).

Under Utilities, several items are presented: a cybersecurity incident response plan for Water ($43,500.00), replacement of a cooling tower pump for Wastewater ($22,210.00), a Stratus/Proficy Health Check ($25,470.00), methanol purchase for FY27 ($120,000.00), and contracts for the Pelletizer Facility, including an asset management fee ($112,351.04) and operations contract ($1,768,387.87). Additionally, a new wastewater truck is proposed for purchase ($49,860.00), and an upgrade to the UV Disinfection System is requested ($95,812.00). Residents should note that these expenditures, if approved, represent significant investments in city infrastructure and services.

Other new business items include the approval of an annexation resolution for Cline Farm and the introduction of annexation resolutions for Cumberland Valley Veterinary Clinic Real Estate, LLC, and Meritus Health, Inc. The council will also consider a resolution for the acceptance of a Main Street Grant, a new user agreement with Halfway Little League and an addendum to an existing agreement with Halfway National Little League, and a perpetual and permanent easement with BSE Stateline, LLC. An exemption from the noise ordinance for fireworks at Meritus Park on September 18, 2026, is also on the agenda. Further, the council will vote on FY27 City Funding Support for the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, an Annual Financial and Single Audit Contract, and the acceptance of a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust for tree planting. The meeting will conclude with comments from the City Administrator and Mayor & Council members before adjournment.

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

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