‘Mars Township’ merger proposal moves closer to reality
ADAMS TWP — Officials from Adams Township and Mars Borough made their third pitch to residents on the benefits of a proposed merger between the two municipalities at a public hearing held Tuesday night, June 2, at Twelve Oaks Mansion.
The merger proposal, which would combine the two into “Mars Township,” is set to be placed before voters in both municipalities in this November’s general election.
In the time since the previous public meeting on the proposed merger, which was held March 24, both municipalities have made strides in bringing it closer to a reality.
On May 14, Mars and Adams officials held a meeting at Stick City Brewing Company with small business owners from downtown Mars to solicit feedback.
Ford said the talk ended in a positive dialogue with business owners.
“We did a little 10-minute talk about the importance of the merger and answered a lot of questions from them,” Ford said. “I don't know that there was one person at that meeting that was not favorable in their comments.”
One of those business owners was Heather Sprague, owner of Novel Breads Co. on Pittsburgh Street, who made a post supporting the merger proposal in a Facebook group.
“If Mars doesn’t start attracting more people into town, our businesses will not be sustainable,” Sprague wrote. “I would love to have my store open more days and for longer hours, but there is not enough consistent traffic in town to make it possible. This merger could potentially bring activity and business development into town.”
On May 18, Adams Township posted a draft of the joint agreement on its website. The draft contains the terms of the merger between the two entities should it go ahead.
According to the terms of the draft agreement, if the merger were to go through, all Mars ordinances would be repealed on the date of signing and the new joint municipality would be governed under Adams Township ordinances, laws and code. The new township would fall under Adams Township’s millage rate of 3.5 mills instead of Mars’ 25.33 mills.
Under the agreement, Mars’ current council, authorities, boards and other elected offices such as mayor, would dissolve. However, current Mars residents would be able to participate in 2027 Mars Township supervisor elections. Ford said some of the current Mars Borough Council members will serve on an advisory board that will assist in the merger transition for a two-year period.
“At least two of the Mars council ... maybe three, we haven’t got that far yet... along with two to three people from the Adams board will serve as an advisory board together,” Ford said.
The agreement would allow for the new township to continue its project for a new library to be built on the site of the former Mars Bank building in downtown Mars.
In addition, if the merger were to go through, the Adams Area Fire District would be “encouraged” to seek a new name to align with the renamed township.
At the end of Tuesday night’s meeting, Ford asked members of the crowd to shout if they were against the merger proposal. Only one woman in the back of the audience did.
During the public comment phase of the hearing, a significant number of the questions centered around postal service in the new township. These included whether mailing addresses would have to be changed after a merger or whether residents would have to go to a new post office to pick up their mail.
Although Ford reminded residents that post office matters were beyond the control of the municipal leaders, he assured residents that postal service would not be impacted by the merger.
“We have nothing to do with the post office, so your address will stay exactly the same,” Ford said. “If you live in the borough of Mars, you will still be going down to the Mars post office to get your mail.”
The fourth joint public hearing for residents of both municipalities is tentatively scheduled for July 28. Ford said there are plans to have representatives from the post office at the next joint public meeting to address mail-related questions.
The next step for both municipalities is to hold separate public hearings on the agreement.
Adams Township will hold its public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Monday and the board of supervisors will take a vote on whether or not to approve it at their meeting at 7 p.m. on June 22.
Mars Borough Council will hold its own public hearing at its meeting on at 7 p.m. July 6 and vote on approval later that night.
“It must pass in both to move forward,” Ford said. “If one council or one supervisor group does not pass it, it's over. If you live in Adams and you have some deep concerns, you need to get in touch with your supervisors before Monday.”
After that hurdle, the merger proposal must be approved by voters of both municipalities when it comes up for election in November. If either Adams Township or Mars rejects it, then a merger between the two cannot be proposed again for a minimum of five years.
If the merger vote succeeds, the target date of consummation is Jan. 1, 2028.
