ADAMS TWP — The merger between Adams Township and the borough of Mars to create the new “Mars Township” came one step closer to reality Monday night, June 22, when supervisors unanimously approved the formal merger agreement during their meeting.

The township held a public hearing on the merger agreement during their previous meeting on June 8, and saw only mild pushback.

On the other side, Mars Borough Council is scheduled to hold its own public hearing on the merger agreement during their next meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 6, and will hold a vote on approving the agreement later that night.

“This is a monumental time, I believe, both in the borough and the township, and I can assure you there's not one person sitting up here who is taking this lightly,” said township Supervisor Russell Ford. “There are lots of changes going on in the world, and we truly believe that this would be a great change for the community.”

The final test of whether the merger process happens will take place at the polls on Election Day, Nov. 3, when residents of Adams Township and Mars will cast their votes on the issue. The referendum will need to pass by a simple majority in both municipalities for the merger to take place.

If the merger is approved by voters in both Mars and Adams Township, it will become effective the first day of 2028.

If the referendum fails to pass, the question of merging Mars and Adams Township cannot be put forward again for five years.

The agreement contains the terms of how the merger would be conducted if passed and what the form the resultant new municipality would take. A draft copy of the agreement is available on Adams Township’s special merger website.

“Everything in the language in this agreement was agreed upon, both by our board and by their board,” Ford said.

In the event Mars Borough Council also votes to approve the joint merger agreement, a copy will be filed at the Butler County Courthouse so a referendum can be placed on the ballot for the general election.