The Adams Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement Monday night that would merge Mars Borough into Adams Township, clearing the way for voters to decide the issue in November.
The 5-0 vote follows months of public meetings, discussion and planning between officials from both municipalities. Before the merger can appear on the ballot, Mars Borough Council must also approve the agreement during a public hearing and meeting scheduled for July 6.
If approved by voters in both municipalities in November, Mars Borough would be absorbed into Adams Township and the combined municipality would be renamed Mars Township.
“This is a monumental time, I believe, both in the borough and the township,” Adams Township Chairman Russ Ford said before the vote. “There is history, but there’s also future.”
Ford said township and borough officials have spent countless hours reviewing the proposal and gathering public input throughout the process.
“We truly believe that this would be a great change for the community,” he said.
Following Ford’s remarks, supervisors voted unanimously in a roll-call vote to approve the merger agreement.
The next step is approval by Mars Borough Council. If both governing bodies approve the agreement, the question will be placed on the November ballot. Voters in both municipalities must approve the merger for it to take effect.
Officials also noted that if the referendum fails in either municipality, the merger proposal cannot be reconsidered for five years.
Mailing Addresses Will Not Change
Prior to the vote, Ford addressed one of the most frequently asked questions raised during recent public meetings — whether residents’ mailing addresses would change if the merger is approved.
According to Ford, township officials met with representatives of the U.S. Postal Service and received written confirmation that existing Mars mailing addresses will remain unchanged.
Ford also said borough residents would continue to pick up mail at the Mars Post Office, just as they do today.
“There will be no fundamental changes,” Ford said.
Flynn Tire Receives Conditional Approval
In other business, supervisors granted conditional approval for a proposed Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service facility along Astor Way near Route 228 and the Shell gas station. The proposed development includes an approximately 8,000-square-foot building with 12 service bays and retail space on a 1.32-acre parcel near the Shell gas station.
Representatives for Flynn’s Tire said the facility would operate Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Supervisors approved the conditional use request subject to several conditions outlined by the township solicitor and indicated additional review will occur during the land development process. Board members also discussed requiring a traffic study as part of future approvals.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
The project must still receive land development approval before construction can begin.
