Public Hearing Joint Merger
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE FOR THE MERGER OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ADAMS AND THE BOROUGH OF MARS
The Board of Supervisors of Adams Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, will hold a Public Hearing on June 8, 2026, at 6:30 P.M. in the Adams Township Municipal Building, 690 Valencia Road, Mars, PA 16046. The purpose of the Public Hearing is to obtain testimony and public comment on enacting an Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance to Adopt an Intermunicipal Agreement for the Merger of the Township of Adams and the Borough of Mars”.
A Summary of the Ordinance is as follows:
The Ordinance adopts an Agreement outlining the procedure and substantive provisions of the Joint Agreement for the Merger of Mars Borough and Adams Township. The effective date is when both municipalities have enacted the Ordinance.
A Summary of the Merger Agreement is as follows:
- The recitals (Whereas clauses) are made a part of the Agreement.
- The following ballot question shall be submitted to the voters of each municipality at the November 3, 2026, election:
Shall the Borough of Mars, a Pennsylvania municipality organized under the Borough Code, be merged into the Township of Adams, a Pennsylvania Township of the Second Class, and with the Township being renamed Mars Township, a Pennsylvania Township of the Second Class, effective January 1, 2028?
- Sets forth the boundaries of the merger of Mars into Adams, the form of government, the effective date of January 1, 2028, and the name of the new municipality “Mars Township”.
- Sets forth provisions for the types of government, the assumption of offices, the termination of Mars’ elected officials and the Mars’ Auditor, the assumption of residency for electors and candidates, and the amendment of the zoning Ordinances and maps.
- Sets forth provisions as to infrastructure, including public works, code enforcement, zoning, parks and recreation and police services, the continuation of sewer service for existing customers, and the transfer of the Mars Borough water system to Mars Township.
- Sets forth provisions for the offer of employment to Mars Borough employees, including the public works foreman, collective bargaining employees and police officers, Mars Borough appointed officials and professional service providers, as well as part time or seasonal positions shall be terminated. Mars Borough will not create any new full time position after the effective date of the Agreement. All Adams Township employee positions will be preserved.
- Sets forth the provision for the transfer of assets and liabilities to Mars Township from Mars Borough.
- Sets forth provisions for the uniformity of taxation rates as required by the Penna. Constitution. All uncollected taxes and assessments due and owing Mars Borough will be transferred to Mars Township.
- Sets forth provisions regarding the utilization of Adams’ Ordinances and the termination of Mars Borough’s Ordinances and a conflict of Ordinances provision. Sets forth provisions for the continuation of Mars Borough’s nonconforming use, structures and approvals.
- Any unanticipated matters which may arise shall be dealt with in good faith. Establishes an advisory Council from Mars Borough Council to address merger issues. Confirms the continuing effort to construct a new library center in Mars. Time is of the essence in the Agreement. The Agreement is solely for the benefit of Mars Borough, Adams Township and Mars Township and provides no beneficiary rights to any third party.
Copies of the full text of the Ordinance are available at the Adams Township Municipal Building, the Butler County Law Library (in the Butler County Courthouse) and at this newspaper and may be examined without charge or obtained for a charge no greater than the cost thereof. In addition, the Merger Agreement is available for review at the Adams Township website at www.adamstwp.org.
ADAMS TOWNSHIP
Michael D. Gallagher, Solicitor
Sean M. Gallagher, Solicitor
GALLAGHER LAW GROUP
110 East Diamond Street, Suite 101
Butler, PA 16001