Despite an angry, shouting match of a meeting, Carlisle may eventually enact a ban on hydrofracking.
The pro- and anti-ban sides are looking to meet privately to resolve differences in Carlisle's proposed law that the town board refused to consider last Wednesday night.
"This is not going to go away," Councilman David Laraway said afterwards, referring to the crowd of ban supporters at the meeting.
"Let's get a couple of people who are for it, a couple of people against it, and hash it out."
That olive branch came after Wednesday's meeting, when the pro-ban Carlisle Concerned Citizens presented a survey showing that most respondents favored a fracking ban.
The poll went to every active Carlisle voter--906 of them--and 400 were returned. Seventy-three percent favored the ban.
The Citizens hoped the town board would reconsider the ban councilmen rejected in January.
"It's a mandate. The ban should be reconsidered," said Mick Bello of the Citizens. "I believe the people spoke."
Councilman Bob Smith argued that residents aren't well-informed about the ban and fracking.
"You're spreading anxiety where it doesn't exist," Mr. Smith said. "There's no gas here, but you don't want to believe it."
"Three-fourths of the people who voted for you disagree with what you're saying," fired back Kurt Pelton of the Citizens.
Offering that he supports "the exploration for gas," resident Mac Holmes said he didn't believe fracking would come to Carlisle.
"This issue is personal," Mr. Pelton answered. "If you don't think fracking is coming here, what's the harm in passing the ban?"
Councilmen Smith and Laraway responded that a ban takes away or restricts property rights, and Councilman Kevin Sisson said he had a list of specific objections to the ban.
"If we were assured it wouldn't affect farming or property rights in any way whatsoever. . ." Mr. Laraway said.
As the board resisted reconsidering the ban, the audience grew increasingly frustrated.
Many believe that the Citizens' survey accurately reflects that most support the ban.
"We elected you to work for us," Dave Empie told councilmen. "You're supposed to be working for us."
"Right now, you're not listening to your constituents," added one woman.
Resident Dick Grace reminded board members that they commissioned attorney and anti-fracking expert David Slottje to write the law.
"This board gave birth to this law," Mr. Grace said. "If you don't like it, change it. I'm sick of hearing about how you don't like this law."
Councilmen refused to reconsider the ban--or even raise a motion to reconsider it--and angry and grumbling Citizens left the meeting.
A few days later, however, both sides had calmed down and were talking about getting together.
"We've all been at that meeting too many times," said Mr. Pelton, referring to Wednesday's confrontation and earlier ones.
"We need a smaller group to talk about this."
Mr. Laraway agreed, suggesting that he and Mr. Sisson meet with Mr. Pelton and other pro-ban reps privately.
"And then we come back to the board and say, 'This is what we agree on,' " Mr. Laraway said.
"Everybody wins something, everybody loses something."