Burwell’s mayor and two council members have barely kept their positions despite a recall attempt over the issue of fluoride in the town’s water.

Voters decided on Tuesday that Charles Cone, Terry Cone and Carolyn DeBaets should continue to represent Burwell.

The results to the issue of whether they should be recalled were Mayor Charles Cone, 278 yes, 290 no; Terry Cone, 129 yes, 173 no; DeBaets, 127 yes, 132 no.

Donald M. Jones had circulated petitions in July to put the three names on the ballot because he said they “failed to allow the public to vote and decide democratically whether to prohibit the addition of fluoride to the drinking water of the city of Burwell and have failed to keep the public adequately informed on important issues affecting the safety, health and well-being of city residents.”

In 2008, the Legislature passed a law requiring cities with populations of more than 1,000 to add fluoride to the water supply. It allowed communities to opt out of the requirement by 2010.

The mayor and council members had noted they felt the time to have such a vote was before they took office.

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