Penn Forest Township residents now have more flexibility to use the township transfer station.

The township supervisors recently updated a policy for use of the station.

Penn Forest residents are allowed to drop off four bags of trash at the station each week under a permit which costs $50 per year. Residents keep punch cards, which show when they dropped off trash.

In the past, they had to use a given week’s punches within two weeks. The new policy says they can get credit for unused punches any time.

“If you have two spots from January, in September, you can go back and use those. We allow 208 bags per year with the permit no matter which week they use them,” said Supervisor Roger Meckes.

The supervisors said residents haven’t been abusing the privilege to bring in large amounts of trash at once, and they are confident that the transfer station can handle all the trash under the new policy.

The discussion started because the township secretary asked what to do when a new resident buys a card. The supervisors agreed that new residents can pay $50 for a full card, or a prorated price and only get the remaining dates in the year.

Other business

• The supervisors approved a 30-day time extension for Lehigh Asphalt to complete the town’s annual paving project because of weather. The project will repave sections of Behrens and Church roads.

Supervisors chairman Warren Reiner said the project may be completed by Aug. 15, but they wanted extra flexibility.

“They’re all behind because of all the rain,” Reiner said.

• The supervisors also approved the purchase of two new vehicles from Fairway Chevrolet. They approved spending $18,927 for the purchase of a Chevrolet pickup (with trade-in credit and COSTARS contract); and a dump truck with hydraulic spreader for $56,274 (with trade-in credit and COSTARS contract).

Reiner said the pickup should be paid for with liquid fuels money and the dump truck will likely be paid for from the general fund.