Hart, a former professional baseball player and longtime government employee, will return to being county manager Sept. 4.

He replaces Doug Browning, who announced earlier this month his plans to become the vice president of administration for Frederick Community College. Hart and Browning will have several weeks of overlap before Browning leaves.

Hart played minor league baseball for the Cleveland Indians after graduating from Frederick High School. In 1987, he was inducted into the Frederick County Sports Hall of Fame.

He began at the county in 1971 as an administrative assistant. He took the county's lowest paying job and worked his way up to county manager in 1999, he said. During the same time, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Hart has been a Realtor with Real Estate Teams LLC in Frederick since he retired as county manager in 2002. He lives with his wife, Jo Ellen, in Woodsboro .

Hart said he views himself as a public servant and hopes to maintain the quality of life in the county.

While he was county manager, he worked with three of the current commissioners: President Jan Gardner, David Gray and John L. Thompson Jr.

He retired for personal reasons, but told the commissioners about six months ago he would be interested in coming back if the job ever became open, he said.

When Browning's resignation was announced, the commissioners called him in for interviews and offered him the job at an annual salary of $160,000, about $10,000 less than Browning makes as county manager. Hart will stop receiving retirement benefits while employed.

"I feel very confident he will do a great job," Gardner said.

Hart said he supports the county's recent decisions to create new divisions for parks and recreation and emergency management.

"This is absolutely the opportunity of a lifetime for me to come back to public service," he said.

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for Monday. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.