Adams Township board unanimously approves organizational appointments, reenacts taxes and OKs merger talks with Mars Borough

The Adams Township Board of Supervisors met Jan. 5, 2026, at the Adams Township Municipal Building and unanimously approved a slate of organizational appointments, administrative actions and Resolution 2026-1 to begin preliminary merger discussions with nearby Mars Borough.

Chairman Russell R. Ford presided at the meeting that convened at 6:14 p.m. After Vice Chairman Ronald J. Shemela declared the board disorganized, supervisors appointed Ford as temporary chairman and Theresa Turner as temporary secretary, then moved to final appointments. The board named Ford chairman and Shemela vice chairman; Shemela was also named supervisor in charge of police. Michael Tylka was appointed township manager and Theresa L. Turner was appointed secretary/treasurer. The board also appointed Candace A. Mathews as assistant secretary and named Russell R. Ford chief administrative officer. Shawn T. Anglum was appointed chief of police and public safety director; Robert J. Scanlon was appointed assistant chief.

Other personnel and committee appointments approved included John R. Hock as assistant public safety director and public works director; Edward F. Lenz and Aaron M. Zaliponi as police sergeants; Joseph B. Julian as code enforcement officer/zoning officer with Sean Rourke and Bill Montgomery as assistants; Brian Perry as park director; Bryan Hinds for cash reconciliations; Elizabeth McMeeckin to the Planning Commission; Ed Unger to the Zoning Hearing Board (three-year term); and Darryl M. Brandon to the Water Authority (five-year term). The board reappointed Ronald G. Nacey and Darryl M. Brandon to the Pension Selection Committee and reappointed members to the Building Codes Appeals Board (Robert Geyer, Jimmy Sperdute and Frank Thompson).

The board also named professional firms and legal counsel: Michael Gallagher and Sean Gallagher of Gallagher Law Group were appointed solicitors for the board and for the planning commission at $205 per hour; Sarah Hancher was appointed solicitor for the Zoning Hearing Board at $195 per hour; David Mitchell of Campbell Durant, P.C., was appointed labor solicitor; and R. D. Hoag and Associates was named the township certified public accountants. Olsen Craft was appointed township engineers and zoning/planning consultant at standard rates, with M.E.S.A and Herbert, Rowland & Grubic named as backup engineers. Trans Associates and MM Traffic Consulting were named traffic consultants.

On administrative and fiscal matters, the board approved the Outline of Benefits and wages for non-union employees as presented. It reenacted township tax rates as follows: real estate tax at 3.75 mills, an occupation tax of $10.00, a real estate transfer tax of one-half of 1 percent, and an earned income tax of one-half of 1 percent. The board confirmed Nextier Bank as the depository for township funds and authorized the chairman to spend up to $5,000 for emergency repairs or supplies. The board also authorized its calendar of 2026 meeting dates and approved minutes from Dec. 8, Dec. 15 and Dec. 22, 2025.

Township Manager Michael Tylka read Resolution 2026-1, described in the meeting as outlining preliminary merger discussions with Mars Borough. The board approved the resolution and scheduled a public informational meeting for Jan. 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Twelve Oaks Mansion, 160 Scharberry Lane, Mars, Pennsylvania, to provide information to residents.

The meeting adjourned at 6:33 p.m. following unanimous consent on the final motion. No public comments were recorded during the meeting.