MARS — The borough will be temporarily outsourcing its code enforcement services to neighboring Adams Township and its code enforcement officer, Joe Julian.

The measure was approved at a borough council meeting Monday night, April 6.

The borough’s regular code enforcement officer, Allen Russell, is on deployment with the U.S. Air Force, although Mars borough staff could not say where he was deployed to. Mayor Gregg Hartung said Russell is expected to return to his regular role in late fall, possibly November.

The arrangement is one of several collaborations between Mars and Adams Township, which already share several other services, including a library and a volunteer fire department. The two municipalities have a proposal in place to merge into one township, which is expected to appear on the ballot in November’s election.