The City of Hagerstown Mayor and City Council appoints the City Administrator to serve as the chief administrative officer of the City. The City Administrator receives direction from the Mayor and Council and is responsible for the day to day management of city operations as assigned under the City's charter. The City operates a full-service goverment under the Council Manager form of municipal government, which was established by adoption of the City's charter in 1983. Hagerstown is also recognized as a Home Rule municipality by the State of Maryland.

The City Administrator's primary responsibilities include:

• The supervision and direction of the administration of all departments.
• The preparation and submission of an annual budget and capital program to the Mayor and Council.
• The appointment of all City employees, with the advice and consent of Mayor and Council requited prior to appointment of department managers.
• Keeping the Council fully advised as to the financial condition and future needs of the city and make recomendations to the Council concerning the affairs of the City.
• Seeing that all laws, provisions of the charter, and acts of the Council are faithfully executed.

Major City Initiatives

The City currently has a number of major initiatives underway. These include the following:

• The revitalization of the downtown as both a commercial and residential area.
• The establishment of neighborhood associations to better identify neighborhood needs and involve residents in developing solutions to those needs.
• The development of programs designed to increase homeownership throughout the City.
• The promotion of economic development in the City through retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses.
• Major upgrades to the City's R. C. Wilson water treatment plant and the City's wastewater treatment plant
• The redevelopment of a 68 acre former fairgrounds site as a multi-use recreational facility.
• The completion of a feasible study and the benefits of constructing a new minor league baseball stadium for the Hagerstown Suns.