POTSDAM — The Village of Potsdam will continue to fluoridate its water.

After a long, and at times heated, discussion over the past year and a half, Village Board of Trustees has voted to continue the practice.

But before that, the people voiced their opinions one last time.

“This is the water I drink. This is the water my children drink,” Sean Corbett said.

Mr. Corbett said that he has consumed fluoridated water all his life and claimed he had suffered no adverse effects.

Several health professionals from Canton-Potsdam Hospital attended the meeting to proclaim that continuing fluoridation was for the good of the people. One such health care professional was Andrew Williams, an associate medical director.

“Again, I would just assert that community water fluoridation has been proven to be safe, effective, economical and ethical. I think we’ve always agreed that fluoridation is effective in preventing dental decay,” Mr. Williams said.

But, like in every other meeting where the public had been encouraged to express opinions on the matter, there were those who disagreed and wanted the practice of water fluoridation to end.

“There has been no study that has proven that it is safe for the thyroid, that it is safe for the kidneys, safe for the brain — many studies question that it is,” Chelle LaClare said.

It had to end, however, and after over an hour of public comments, the board had to vote.

It was the last item on the agenda. Attendees sat patiently, eyes trained on the board of trustees. As Lori S. Queor, the village clerk, read off the resolution, the crowd watched in silence.

“No,” said Trustee Stephen J. Warr. “I have concerns about the way things are done.”

Mr. Warr said that he had reached out to Canton-Potsdam Hospital staff to ask about how efficient and effective the water fluoridation process was but said he had received a limited response.

Two employees from the hospital interrupted Mr. Warr in disagreement, but he said that he had simply wished for more information.

“I thought it would progress further than just a response,” Mr. Warr said.

“Yes,” board member Maggie M. McKenna said. “I do believe that the best medicine is preventative.”

She said that after all the research she had done over the past year, she wasn’t an expert, and would instead defer to the health care professionals.

“Aye,” board member Abigail D. Lee said. “Many thanks to all the people who came.”

“I am going to vote yes,” board member Cindy J. Goliber said.

Mrs. Goliber said that when she had lived without fluoridated water, it had negatively affected her teeth.

Village Mayor Reinhold J. Tischler also voted for continued fluoridation.

“This is probably the best thing for the village,” Mr. Tischler said.

After the voting concluded, attendees wearing light-blue, I-heart-fluoride T-shirts erupted in applause, stood and shook hands, patted each other on the back and congratulated one another.

In the coming weeks, the board will have to decide how to apply the fluoride — either repair the current method or use another.

*Original article online at http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/village-of-potsdam-to-continue-fluoridating-the-water-20180918

See past articles on the Potsdam fluoridation issue:

Oct 1, 2018	ADA News	‘I love fluoride’ campaign proves effective in New York
Sept 26, 2018	North Country Now	Opinion: More Medicaid coverage is better than fluoride, says Potsdam resident By Jessie LaRose, Potsdam
Sept 18, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Village of Potsdam to continue fluoridating the water
Sept 18, 2018	North Country Now	Village of Potsdam approves controversial fluoridation of municipal water by 4-1 vote
Sept 18, 2018	North Country Now	Opinion: Colton man makes five point plan to ‘Keep Potsdam Smiling’ By By Jerry Bartlett, Colton
Sept 16, 2018	North Country Now	Medical and dental professionals urge Potsdam to continue fluoridating water; vote could be Monday
Sept 11, 2018	North Country Now	Opinion: Fluoride won’t fix oral health problem, says Potsdam resident By Susan E. Powers, Potsdam
Sept 11, 2018	North Country Now	Opinion: Potsdam woman wonders if we should medicate public via water supply By Paula Youmell, Potsdam
Sept 8, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam residents voice opinions on water fluoridation as the village plans to vote on matter on Sept. 17
Sept 5, 2018	North Country Now	Fluoridation meeting draws crowd in Potsdam, residents suggest alternative dental health programs
Sept 5, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam residents voice opinions on water fluoridation as the village plans to vote on matter on Sept. 17
Aug 23, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam Village board hears professional and public comments on fluoridating the water
Aug 21, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Letter: Potsdam needs to consider facts on fluoride By Dean Laubscher
Aug 21, 2018	North Country Now	Potsdam meeting draws out those in support of fluoridation
Aug 11, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Letter: Potsdam: Fluoridated water has proven health benefits By Stephen A. Jennings, Jefferson County Public Health Service
Aug 9, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Editorial: Chew on this: Potsdam should continue adding fluoride to its water supply
Aug 5, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam gets engineering report on fluoride
Aug 5, 2018	North Country Now	Potsdam village board will vote on fluoridation before end of September
July 29, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam forum focuses on choice about fluoridation
July 19, 2018	North Country Now	Fluoridated water opponent to speak at Potsdam town meeting July 26
June 3, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam water quality flagged with violations, then rectified; fluoride decision awaits research
June 2, 2018	North Country Now	Most Potsdam village respondents say services worth the cost
April 20, 2018	North Country Now	Potsdam will study fluoridation system with help from grant funding
March 8, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam Village Trustees discuss fluoridation
Jan 30, 2018	Watertown Daily Times	Letter: Look into effects fluoridation has on body By Dean Laubscher
Dec 6, 2017	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam receives legal advice on water source, fluoridation
Oct 3, 2017	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam holds public hearing on fluoridation
Sept 24, 2017	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam: Local dentists express support for water fluoridation
Sept 11, 2017	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam: Village trustee meeting brings comments on fluoride
Aug 27, 2017	Watertown Daily Times	Potsdam trustees consider whether to end fluoridation
Aug 10, 2017	North Country Now	Letter: Fluoride expert willing to help Potsdam with issue By Paul Connett
July 30, 2018	North Country Now	Potsdam village might stop fluoridating water, might not; study sought