POTSDAM – Fluoridation of village municipal water has been approved following another round of statements on both sides of the issue and a 4 to 1 vote in favor by the trustees and mayor.
Trustee Steve Warr voted no. “I’m concerned about the way it’s being done,” with the “targeting” approach failing to be effective enough.
Echoing some of the speakers at Monday night’s Board of Trustees meeting, who said in spite of fluoridation there was still an “epidemic” of poor dental health in the community, Warr said, “I don’t doubt that it helps, but if we still have an epidemic, we’re not doing it well.”
The three other trustees and Mayor Ron Tischler decided to “defer to the professionals,” as trustee Maggie McKenna put it, referring to the doctors and other medical practitioners who once again turned out in numbers Monday to speak for continuation of a program they believe in.
Those speakers once again spoke of their knowledge of the research on the matter showing clear effectiveness and safety of fluoridation, and the dangers of abandoning a program that works to help prevent not only cavities but the more serious follow-on conditions they can lead to, such as heart and brain infections, which can be fatal.
Trustee Abby Lee said she agreed with Warr that “more is needed” with help from county and regional resources, but that she voted to go with “what the majority of taxpayers want.”
Trustee Cindy Goliber said her personal experience, living in places with and without fluoride in the water and the worse results she had without fluoride, “leads me to believe in it.”
Mayor Tischler said after the several long public sessions with speakers for and against fluoridating the water and from others with different ideas, and being “inundated with letters and emails” in recent months, he was voting for fluoridation because “it’s probably the best thing for the majority of the people in the village.”
That left the opponents unsatisfied that the board had not been persuaded by the examples of research they believe clearly show the danger of fluoridation.
Dean Laubscher, one of the leading local opponents of fluoridation, said last night’s board vote was not decisive, and that he would work toward staging a referendum on the issue.
*Original article online at http://northcountrynow.com/news/village-potsdam-approves-controversial-fluoridation-municipal-water-4-1-vote-0243080
See past articles on the Potsdam fluoridation issue:
Nov 9, 2018 |
Watertown Daily Times |
Village of Potsdam to implement new fluoridation system.
By Kevin Shea |
Oct 1, 2018 |
ADA News |
‘I love fluoride’ campaign proves effective in New York |
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 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, 2017 |
North Country Now |
Potsdam village might stop fluoridating water, might not; study sought |