Village of Potsdam to continue fluoridating the water

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: