Franklin Township residents are invited to the open house at their new recycling center from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday.

The center is at 900 Fairyland Road, near the two pavilions.

There will be a food truck, a playground for the children and a surprise guest.

The center will not be accepting recycling at the open house. The center will begin accepting materials on Thursday, July 2, and be open Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Recycling will only be accepted on those two days, and is only for Franklin Township residents. Proof of residency will be required.

The center will accept paper, cardboard, mixed glass and metals at this point, with separate bins for each.

According to Franklin Township Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Grodis, there are some changes regarding payments and statements.

“Online payments are now available, and you can go onto our website directly to make payment,” she said.

The website is FranklinTownshipCarbonCounty.com.

Grodis also advised that the second quarter statements were mailed. And beginning with the third quarter statements, people who have a zero or a credit balance will no longer receive printed statements in the mail, something many customers requested.

New zoning ordinance

Franklin Township supervisors are planning a special public meeting to be held in July to discuss the new zoning ordinance, plus to discuss zoning regarding data centers.

“We wanted to do all of the zoning at the same meeting,” Supervisor Fred Kemmerer Jr. stated.

The meeting will be open to the public, and the date and time will be announced once it is scheduled.

Other business

The supervisors also conducted the following business:

• Voted to get quotes for a security camera for the maintenance garage.

• Approved moving one part- time road employee to full time, and hiring two more full-time employees, all at a rate of $18 per hour, with a 72-cent-per-hour increase upon a successful six-month probationary period.

• The Franklin Township Fire Police will assist at the following events: July 4, Lehighton Block Party, 6-10 p.m.; Sept. 26, Lehighton 250th parade, starting at 1 p.m.; and Oct. 17, Lehighton Halloween parade, starting at 3 p.m. (The rain date is Oct. 18.)

• A request for fire police assistance at the Oct. 24 Witches Market in Lehighton was tabled until more information can be obtained as to whether that market is considered a nonprofit or for-profit event.