South Whitehall Township Manager Jon Hammer reports the annual rate for trash and recycling service will drop from $344 to $280 in the new year.

At the Nov. 20 commissioners' meeting, Hammer said J.P. Mascaro was awarded the bid for a three-year contract.

Presently, the company is completing a five-year contract.

"We will be providing the same services plus some enhancements," Hammer said.

A new feature will be seasonal weekly curbside collection of grass clippings in a 35-gallon container.

Residents will no longer have to pay $3 per bag of grass clippings.

There will be no discount for people who have small or infrequent amounts of trash to be picked up.

"We have a flat rate for everyone," Hammer said. "It is a good rate for every resident."

At meetings earlier this year, individuals had requested grass clippings pick-up and lower rates for collection of small amounts of garbage.

In other business, the board granted approval for transfer of a restaurant liquor license from Allentown to South Whitehall.

The action enables the owners of Platz's Restaurant, P.J. Whelihans at 4595 Broadway, to reconfigure the establishment in an all new structure on the existing and recently acquired adjacent lot at 4570 Tilghman.

Platz's current grandfathered hotel liquor license restricts them from changing the footprint of the building.