Mars officially approves merger agreement with Adams Township
MARS — After an hourlong public hearing on Monday night, July 6, borough council approved a joint agreement which would dictate the terms of a municipal merger between the borough and Adams Township.
Adams Township’s board of supervisors held a similar vote on the joint agreement at its most recent meeting on June 22, approving it by a unanimous 5-0 decision.
The two approvals clear the way for both municipalities to place a question on the ballot for the November general election asking voters whether they want to approve a merger of Adams Township and Mars Borough into a single, second-class township called Mars Township.
The proposed merger needs a positive vote in both municipalities on Election Day to go forward. If that happens, the joint agreement calls for the merger to be consummated by New Year’s Day of 2028.
Unlike in Adams Township, the vote on the joint agreement in Mars was not unanimous. One council member, William Lambert, voted “no” on the merger agreement, against six votes for the measure.
“I just need more information,” Lambert said regarding why he didn’t feel comfortable supporting the motion. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
Just before the final vote, Councilman Eric Pomeroy admitted he had also been skeptical about the idea at first, but eventually warmed to it.
“Originally, when this was all proposed to us, I was against it. I was at a point where there were too many details, and I wasn’t really trusting the whole process,” Pomeroy said. “But when we started making the subcommittees and seeing the different issues that we’re going to cover, that made me more comfortable.”
Since it was revealed to the public in January, the merger proposal has received relatively little pushback from residents of either municipality.
Officials from both Adams and Mars have touted numerous benefits for Mars, including a major reduction of taxes from 25.33 to 3.75 mills to match Adams Township’s rate, as well as 24/7 police coverage.
Another key part of the merger involves the creation of a new library, which is planned for downtown Mars at the location of the former Mars Bank.
“I think a lot of people see what we’re trying to accomplish and are OK with it,” said council President G. Michael Fleming. “We’ve been very transparent by having all the information available online and through the offices, and we’ve tried to keep everything out in the open. When you’re not filling the room with angry people, you’re probably onto something.”
Another key point in the joint agreement is that if the merger were to go through, the newly merged township would be governed by the current Adams Township board of supervisors, while the Mars Borough government — including council and other positions — would effectively cease to exist.
Although the mood during Monday’s public hearing was mostly positive, one Adams Township resident expressed concern the tax rate would rise following the merger.
“I think our taxes are going to be raised, because if you're merging and you’re going to be getting all-new equipment (for the police department) and this and that ... that’s going to cost money,” said Fran McCourt. “I’ve talked to some of my neighbors, and that’s a big concern.”
However, Pomeroy reassured her a post-merger tax increase was unlikely.
“If Adams was to raise the taxes on their residents, that would be political suicide for them,” Pomeroy said. “I understand your concerns, but I just do not believe that that's going to happen.”
Between now and Election Day, Fleming said additional joint public meetings will be held, similar to the three that have been held at Twelve Oaks Mansion in Adams Township in January, March and June.
“We’ll continue to try and reach out to groups, whether it be the homeowners associations or churches or clubs or whoever we can who might have some interest,” Fleming said.
