PUBLIC NOTICE

of the
PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION of the
VILLAGE OF WALDEN to
DISCONTINUE THE FLUORIDATION of the VILLAGE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on October 17, 2017, the Village Board for the Village of Walden duly adopted a Resolution making a preliminary determination to discontinue the fluoridation of the Village Public Water Supply.   The justification for the proposed discontinuance as well as the alternatives to fluoridation that are available and a summary of the Village’s consultations with health professionals and the Department of Health are set forth in the Village Board Resolution 18-17-18 duly adopted on October 17, 2017, a copy of which is set forth below.

BY ORDER OF THE VILLAGE BOARD

TARA BLISS, VILLAGE CLERK

RESOLUTION

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF WALDEN
RESOLUTION NO.  18-17-18 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 153 of the Code of the Village of Walden, the Village Board heretofore determined to authorize the introduction of fluoride compounds (“fluoridation”) into the Village’s public water supply pursuant and in accordance with to Section 1100-a of the New York State Public Health Law; and

WHEREAS, the Village Board after due deliberation and consideration has now determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Village of Walden to re-analyze whether or not it is appropriate and in the best interests of the citizens of the Village of Walden to continue fluoridation of  the Village’s public water supply; and

WHEREAS, in conducting its analysis, the Village Board has consulted with various health professionals some of whom were in favor of fluoridation and others of whom were opposed to fluoridation of  the Village’s public water supply; and

WHEREAS, the health professionals who have been consulted by the Village include the following: Michael B. Schachter MD, CNS, Matt Gines, Nutritionist, Susan Burian, DC, Scott Hines, MD, Jonathan Nasser, MD, Dionne J. Richardson, DDS, MPH, David Kennedy, DDS, MIAOMT, John Kall, DMD, FAGD, MIAOMT, and Griffin Cole, DDS, NMD, MIAOMT; and

WHEREAS, the Village has further consulted with the Orange County Department of Health (“OCDOH”) and representatives of the OCDOH have appeared before the Village of Walden Board of Trustees at a meeting duly held on September 5, 2017 and expressed their support for fluoridation of the Village public water supply; and

WHEREAS, in conducting its analysis, the Board has taken specific notice of information provided by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (“IAOMT”), an organization consisting of over 800 dentists, physicians and research professionals in more than 14 countries; and

WHEREAS, IAOMT has authored correspondence addressed to the Village of Walden dated October 2, 2017 wherein they summarize their official position on the fluoridation of public water supplies as follows: “Given the elevated number of fluoride sources and the increased rates of fluoride intake in the American population, which have risen substantially since water fluoridation began in the 1940s, it has become a necessity to reduce and work toward eliminating avoidable sources of fluoride exposure, including water fluoridation, fluoride containing dental materials, and other fluoridated products”; and

WHEREAS, based upon the Village’s consultations with said health professionals, and based specifically upon consultations with IAOMT, the Village has now reached a preliminary determination to discontinue the use of fluoride in the Village public water supply and, based upon that preliminary determination, to proceed in accordance with the requirements of New York Public Health Law Section 1100-a; and

WHEREAS, in reaching said preliminary determination the Board has further considered the existence of alternatives to fluoridation that are widely known and commonly accepted and that include such normal and routine actions such as the maintenance of good oral hygiene through regular brushing and flossing, maintenance of a balanced nutritional diet as well as topical applications of fluoride toothpaste, fluoride dental treatments and fluoride mouth washes; and

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby

RESOLVED, that the Board hereby preliminarily determines to discontinue the fluoridation of the Village public water supply; and it is further

RESOLVED, that the Village shall issue a notice to the public of this preliminary determination of the Village Board to discontinue fluoridation so as to receive public comment, all in accordance with the New York State Public Health Law Section 1100-a; and it is further

RESOLVED, that the Village Board provide the New York State and Orange County Health Departments the requisite ninety day written notice of our intent to discontinue fluoridation and submit a plan for discontinuance that includes but is not limited to the notice that will be provided to the public including the date of such discontinuance and alternatives to fluoridation, if any, that will be made available in the community, and that includes information as may be required under the Sanitary Code.

MOTION to adopt by Trustee Ramos and seconded by Trustee Thompson.  The vote was 4 ayes to 2 nays (Trustee Adams and Deputy Mayor Hoffman) with 0 abstentions and 1 absence (Trustee Sebring).  The Mayor declared the resolution adopted on October 17, 2017.

Certificate

The foregoing is a true and complete copy of a resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Walden at a regular meeting held on October 17, 2017.  Public notice was given and the meeting was conducted in full compliance with the New York Open Meeting Law (Public Officers Law, Sections 100-111).  Minutes of the meeting will be available as provided by law.

Tara Bliss, Village Clerk

*Original Public Notice online at https://villageofwalden.org/11-20-17-discontinuance-of-fluoridation-of-village-drinking-water