Renfrew's Historic Caboose, which was the target of vandalism back in July of 2023
After being plagued by vandalism in 2023, Renfrew is putting it’s foot down.
Town council has approved a new corporate policy on graffiti management that lays out the difference between “graffiti art” and “graffiti vandalism” and provides town staff with a clear procedure for responding, documenting, and removing the latter.
However, Director of Facilities, Maintenance, and Operations Janet Collins says by-law officers will ultimately handle how to punish vandals who get caught in the act.
Collins explains that the process for removing graffiti from town-owned property will be fairly simple, but there is a provision that gives private property owners a say on the matter when it affects them.
The document also provides clear instructions on how by-law officers and town staff can involve local police in the most severe cases.
Fines and penalties for graffiti and vandalism are handled by the property standards by-law, which Collins says will be revised in the coming months.
(written by Kasey Egan)