Did Franklin Common Council Get It Right?

At the January 7, 2014 Franklin Common Council meeting, the following item was discussed: item #5, "Ordinance to Amend the Municipal Code to Provide for the Prevention of Blight Created by the Boarding Up of Windows upon Unoccupied Dwelling Structures." The City of Franklin is having problems with homes that are unoccupied due to the downturn in the housing market. Many of these homes are bank owned as a result of foreclosure action. Banks and other owners, in an attempt to eliminate vandalism, have elected to board up the windows. The common council has now amended the municipal code to prevent this practice.

If the council knows from past experience that vandalism will occur, what are they doing to make sure vandalism stops in our neighborhoods? The other side of the question is -- how are the police involved and how are they fighting vandalism in our community?

Franklin residents don't want to look at blighted homes. But nobody wants vandalism either. Did the common council deal with the real problem?