The City of Binghamton has over 300 vacant properties city-wide.

It will now employ someone to oversee them.

Monday night, city council voted 5 to 4 to create the position of vacant property officer, as proposed by Mayor Matt Ryan.

It's 45 thousand dollar salary will be paid for by surplus Community Development Block Grant money.

In July, council passed a plan that requires vacant property owners to register with the city and provide a property maintenance plan.

The new position will oversee that registry.

But some council members think that grant money could have been better spent.

"You can use this money for senior citizens that are on fixed incomes to help fix up their homes. I think that would be a good use for this money. And once you create a position, it's awful tough to take that position away," says councilman Chris Papastrat.

The new 18 month position takes effect December 1st.