Nuisance laws updated

FRANKLIN — The borough now has a legal tool to handle such nuisances as people who are drinking excessively in public, panhandling or otherwise making a pest of themselves by such activities as early-morning deliveries that involve slamming doors. Council introduced an amendment to part of its nuisance ordinance on Aug. 11. It was expected to receive final passage two nights ago, on Sept. 8. It will then take effect 20 days later. Nuisances are defined by the borough as “any matter, thing, condition or act which is, or may become, detrimental or a menace to the health of the inhabitants of the borough.” However, nuisances can seem easy to discuss but difficult to define legally, since things such as noise and other misdemeanors are generally covered under other ordinances, borough officials agree. Therefore, this adjustment can effectively pick up where other legal mechanisms may leave off, borough officials say. This particular amendment came as a request from the municipal prosecutor “so that he would have a better tool to deal with violations which in the past were excluded under the old nuisance ordinance, which was very specific in violations and limited applications,” borough administrator Richard R. Wolak said last week. “In other words, we gave him the tools he needs to protect the borough’s interests.” The other ordinance, he said, “didn’t include people...So now, personal acts are going to be covered under the nuisance act.”