Mars Borough Council is scheduled to vote Monday, December 15, on a proposed events policy that would significantly change who is eligible to organize events using public streets and spaces in the borough — a move that has raised concerns among some local business owners.
Under the draft policy, Mars Borough would accept event applications only from non-profit organizations, excluding for-profit businesses from independently hosting events that require street closures, public services, or use of borough property. Borough officials say the policy is intended to protect taxpayers and public resources, while some business owners warn it could result in fewer community events and reduced economic activity downtown.
The policy is expected to be voted on at the Borough Council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday’s council meeting at the 301Arch St. Mars.
What the proposed policy would do
According to the draft events policy circulated ahead of the vote, Mars Borough would formalize its event approval process by:
- Limiting event applications to non-profit organizations
- Requiring organizers to reimburse the Borough for police, public works, and administrative services
- Establishing insurance requirements and liability coverage
- Requiring licensed security and RAMP-certified staff for events involving alcohol
- Retaining authority to deny, modify, or shut down events based on safety or compliance concerns
Borough officials say the policy clarifies expectations and ensures public resources are not used to financially benefit private, for-profit entities
Borough officials cite taxpayer protection
In correspondence shared with The 228 Times, Council Member Brad Price emphasized that public streets and sidewalks belong to borough residents and taxpayers, and that the Borough should not use public funds or resources to support private business profit.
Price noted that non-profit organizations provide additional transparency, insurance protections, and community reinvestment, and suggested that business-led events could continue under a non-profit business association or chamber model.
Borough officials also cited liability concerns and staffing limitations for police and public works departments as factors driving the policy.
Why borough officials say the policy is necessary
In a follow-up email to The 228 Times, Councilman Brad Price said the proposed events policy is the result of years of discussion as the number and scale of downtown events in Mars has grown significantly.
Price noted that while the borough historically hosted just three or four events annually, that number has increased to as many as 15 events in a single year, including food truck nights and other gatherings. As events expanded, he said, the borough began evaluating how to manage the additional demands placed on police, public works, and administrative staff.
Price emphasized that Mars Borough operates with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million and that council’s primary responsibility is to provide essential local government services such as police, fire, EMS, road maintenance, snow and leaf removal, stormwater management, and park upkeep.
Event planning, he said, falls outside those core services funded by taxpayers.
Price also cited liability and insurance considerations as a key factor behind limiting event applications to nonprofit organizations. He said nonprofits provide additional legal and insurance protections for the borough and help shield taxpayers from financial and legal risk associated with large public events.
According to Price, business-led events could continue under a nonprofit business association or chamber structure, similar to how other longstanding Mars events are currently organized. He said the borough would welcome the formation of a Mars-based business association and would work with such a group to help ensure events remain successful while protecting public resources.
Price added that his comments reflect his own perspective as one of seven council members and that the proposed policy was drafted by an ad hoc advisory group rather than the full council.
Businesses say policy could limit events
Some Mars-based business owners say the proposed policy could unintentionally restrict the types of events that have helped sustain downtown activity in recent years.
“As a business community, we rely on events to stay in business,” said Danielle Doebereiner, owner of Nosh & Curd /Oil & Vinegar. “The foot traffic and visibility they bring are essential — and they directly support the borough through increased local spending and tax revenue. Many of Mars’ most successful events have come from the businesses, so limiting applications to nonprofits creates an unnecessary barrier. We’re not asking taxpayers to fund our events; we’re simply asking for the chance to continue hosting the gatherings that bring people downtown, build community, and keep our small businesses alive.”
Nick Salkeld, owner of Stick City Brewing Company, added some businesses increasingly rely on events to attract customers in a post-COVID retail environment.
“If businesses in Mars Borough cannot find ways to increase revenues, we will cease to exist,” Salkeld wrote in an email to borough officials. He argued that locally based businesses should be allowed to apply for events provided they meet insurance, safety, and cost requirements and receive council approval.
Other business owners echoed concerns that events hosted by Mars businesses provide social value, increase foot traffic, and support the borough’s long-term economic health.
A long-running discussion
Borough officials have said the policy is the result of years of discussion as the number and scale of events in Mars has increased. The goal, they say, is not to eliminate events, but to create a clear and enforceable framework that balances safety, liability, and public resource management.
Some business owners counter that the current draft is overly restrictive and could lead to fewer events overall, particularly those driven by small, locally owned businesses.
What happens next
Mars Borough Council is expected to vote on the policy Monday evening. The meeting is open to the public, and residents and business owners will have an opportunity to comment before the vote.
If approved, the policy would apply to future events requiring permits for street closures, public services, alcohol service, or large gatherings.
Council Meeting
- Date: Monday, December 15
- Time: 7:00 p.m.
- 301 Arch Street, Mars