Peter Applebome reports in The New York Times the town of Sanford, in Broome County, finds itself in a legal dispute after officials banned discussion of gas drilling. In September, the town board passed a resolution to limit public dialogue at its monthly meetings because the subject was taking up too much of its time. The resolution stated the town has heard extensively from both sides of the issue, and it would not hear anything further until the state completed its environmental review. Sanford town officials have actively sought renewed gas drilling, including hydrofracking. On Tues., Feb. 12, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy filed suit against the town, a community of 2,400 residents located near the Pennsylvania border, atop the gas-rich Marcellus Shale. The complaint argues the resolution violated residents’ free speech rights. The Federal District Court action asks the ban be declared unconstitutional and the court prohibit enforcement of that ban. Read the full story at the New York Times.