Mars Borough has about six checklist items it needs to address when it comes to meeting the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) municipal storm sewer system (MS4) regulations.

“To meet what is, in all reality, just the administrative requirements (for) DEP,” said Mike Fleming, council president, Monday night.

One of council's 2021 goals is to meet those administrative tasks in order to show DEP reportable progress. Fleming indicated one of the items involves educating and involving the public in MS4.

Chatham University students who are working to help the borough navigate MS4 could be particularly helpful with outreach, according to Fleming.

MS4 includes ongoing projects in which DEP requires municipalities to control the amount of pollutants and sediment that runs into local waterways.

As previously reported by the Eagle, an MS4 is required in municipalities fitting a certain population density with storm systems that don't tie into sewer systems.

In the past, many municipalities have struggled to understand how changing MS4 plans affect them and what DEP requires them to do.

“It'll take clarity over time,” Fleming said. “This is just another part of it.”

Previously, Fleming said the borough had secretary Bonnie Forsythe act as the point-person for local MS4 development. Forsythe recently left her borough position.

On Monday night, the council voted to have Kevin Creagh of KLH Engineers Inc. facilitate the borough's MS4 compliance for 2021 at a cost not to exceed $13,500.