Palmerton has made a minor change to its fireworks ordinance to comply with the state’s laws.

Borough council on a 5-0 vote last week approved the first reading of an alteration to the ordinance.

After the meeting, borough Manager Donna McGarry said, “The state has changed their laws governing fireworks, and we needed to make our ordinance consistent with their laws.”

For example, McGarry said the borough is not allowed to restrict the use of consumer fireworks on Memorial Day or Labor Day.

In addition, she said the borough’s ordinance restricted the use of fireworks between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.

However, McGarry said the state changed it to 10 p.m. and 10 a.m.

There are special considerations for July 4 and New Year’s Eve, as well.

Councilmen Michael Ballard and Cory Kepner were absent.

The ordinance prohibits discharging fireworks on borough property.

State law prohibits fireworks being set off within 150 feet of an occupied structure, even if no one is present at the time.