Some city residents were upset when City Council members limited discussion of the Hudson senior living project at the last council meeting.

They shouldn’t be.

Now that a lawsuit has been filed over the project by five city residents, including one who is a sitting member of the City Council, no one should expect there to be unfettered discussion of the senior living project until after the issues raised in the lawsuit are settled by a judge.

We’re honestly not sure what additional public dialogue does at this point anyway. Because there is a lawsuit against the project city officials should not speak publicly.

Doing so accomplishes little other than to inflame an already tense situation while opening the city up to further potential legal issues. The smartest thing for city taxpayers is to have no discussion until the judge begins ruling on the issues the Warren residents raised.

It is also well established in the law that governing bodies have the ability to limit time speaking during a government meeting and to limit items to what is on the agenda if necessary. In this case, it appears necessary.

Council meetings have been filled with allegations, accusations and debate over the Hudson senior living project. Filing a lawsuit is a signal by Warren residents David Winans, Ronald Peterson, Philip Caudill, Wendy McCain and Kevin Sheldon that the time to talk is over. Their lawsuit is a request for judicial action – and actions speak louder than words.