Franklin City Councilman Greg McLemore cast a perceptive vote Monday night against a series of proposed changes to the city charter.

Call it an exercise in self-preservation.

Councilman Benny Burgess, in outlining the proposed changes, never mentioned McLemore by name, but it didn’t take much reading between the lines to know the target. To an item, the changes are directed squarely at McLemore, the combative councilman who has locked horns with his council colleagues ever since joining the board last year.

We understand the council’s frustration with McLemore, but one man is rarely enough reason to undertake radical change such as amending the city charter.

The proposed changes must be carefully considered on their merits. The council and citizenry might well decide that changes such as a recall procedure for council members and a ban on running for mayor while representing an individual ward are needed. That’s fine as long as it’s not a knee-jerk reaction to McLemore.

If that’s all it’s about, the council will have succeeded in giving him what he craves: attention.