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 February 6, 2018, the Village Board for the Village of Walden supplemented Resolution 18-17-18, adopted October 17, 2017 and duly adopted a Resolution making a preliminary determination to discontinue the fluoridation of the Village Public Water Supply with an anticipated date of discontinuance as of May 15, 2018. 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 Orange County and New York State Departments of Health are set forth in the Village Board Resolution 33-17-18 duly adopted on February 6, 2018, a copy of which is annexed to this Public Notice.
BY ORDER OF THE VILLAGE BOARD
TARA BLISS, VILLAGE CLERK
RESOLUTION
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF WALDEN
RESOLUTION NO. 33-17-18
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, Griffin Cole, DDS, NMD, MIAOMT, Bill Osmunson DDS MPH, and Meg Atwood, RDH, MPS; and
WHEREAS, the following health professionals have provided written and in some cases verbal information to the Village that is generally in favor of the continuation of the fluoridation of the Village public water supply: Scott Hines, MD, Jonathan Nasser, MD, Dionne J. Richardson, DDS, Meg Atwood, RDH, MPS; and
WHEREAS, the following health professionals have provided written information that is generally opposed to the fluoridation of public water supply systems: Michael B. Schachter MD, Matt Gines, Nutritionist, Susan Burian, DC; David Kennedy, DDS, MIAOMT, John Kall, DMD, FAGD, MIAOMT, Bill Osmunson DDS MPH, 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 verbally expressed their support for fluoridation of the Village public water supply; and
WHEREAS, the Village has also consulted with the New York State Department of Health (“NYDOH”) and representatives of the NYSDOH appeared before the Village of Walden Board of Trustees at a meeting duly held on January 22, 2018 at which time the representatives of the NYSDOH expressed their verbal support for fluoridation of the Village public water supply and further submitted written documentation in support of their position which documentation has been received and reviewed by the Village and is on file and available for public inspection; 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 aforementioned consultations with said health professionals, and after further considering the oral statements and written materials submitted by the OCDOH and the NYSDOH, 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 by adopting the plan for the discontinuance of the fluoridation as prepared by the Village Engineer, Lanc & Tully, P.C. dated February 8, 2018 which plan shall be implemented in the event the Village Board subsequently determines to make a final determination and further by providing the required notice of the Village’s preliminary determination to discontinue the use of fluoride in the Village public water supply; 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 hereby adopts the plan for discontinuance as prepared by the Village Engineer, Lanc & Tully, P.C., dated February 8, 2018 which plan shall be implemented in the event that the Village Board makes a final determination to discontinue the use of fluoride in the Village public water supply; and it is further
RESOLVED, that the anticipated date of discontinuance is May 15 2018; 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 Thompson and seconded by Trustee Sebring. The vote was 5 ayes to 2 nays (Deputy Mayor Hoffman and Trustee Adams) with 0 abstentions and 0 absences. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted on February 6, 2018.
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 February 6, 2018. 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
(seal)