Fluoridation

Town Board, 12-22-2020

In a 4-1 vote with Councilman Diana voting no, the board approved a resolution to proceed with the fluoridation  project at an additional cost of  $40,338. The funds will come from the water district’s fund balance.  The additional cost of the project was reduced from $70,000  by eliminating $30,000 from an “additional work allowance” in the original contract. The project was expected to be completed by March but it may take until May to complete. If that happens, the contractor will not ask for any additional money.  The proj4ect needs to be completed in May when the grant expires.

During Courtesy of the Floor: Calling attention to the health benefits of fluoridation as well as the cost to residents when the town’s water supply is not fluoridated, Dr. Carl Tegtmeier asked the board to proceed with the project. When Susan Siegel, the person writing this summary, asked the board to vote during the meeting on a resolution authorizing the additional $70,000 needed to complete the project, Supervisor Slater explained that the board needed more time to consider how to cover the additional cost. Councilwoman Roker said that the board has not said “no” to the project.

Town Board, 12-8-2020

Town Board 7-7-2020

Supervisor Slater announced that NY State has extended the $900,000 grant and that  construction is expected to begin next week.

During Courtesy of the  Floor, two speakers urged the board to proceed with the delayed fluoridation project and not wait for written confirmation from the state that the grant money would be forthcoming.  Dr. Carl Tegtmeier, a dentist, spoke about the value of fluoridation and the support it has within the health community. Susan Siegel, the person writing this summary, said that the $700,000 needed to complete the project was available and that completing the project was a critical health issue.

In response, Mr. Quinn said that Yorktown’s request to the state Department of Health has been “elevated” but that there still was no way of knowing if or when the existing grant, which has expired, would be renewed. He advised the board that all the necessary paperwork for the project to proceed has been completed but he is still waiting for a written confirmation from the state that the grant will be extended before instructing the contractor to begin work.

Councilman Diana said the town should wait for the state to act before proceeding.

During Courtesy of the Floor, Mark Lieberman asked for a status report on the fluoridation project. In response, Mr. Quinn explained that construction had not stated because of New York Pause but that the contract6or was taking care of required paperwork behind the scene. He also advised the board that the state grant, which already has one extension, would expire at the end of May and that he has verbal, but not written confirmation that it will be extended again.  The board, however, expressed concern over the state of  New York’s finances and whether the state would reimburse the town for expenses once construction starts.

Town Board, 12-10-2019

(See Town Board, 12-3-2019 budget hearing for discussion about fluoridation.) The board awarded the bid for the construction of the new fluoridation system for the Catskill water supply. In addition to the $700,000 already set aside for the project, the board voted to transfer $149,970 from the water district’s fund balance. Once the funds are expended, the town will be reimbursed pursuant to a state grant.

Although not on the agenda, Mr. Quinn gave the board an update on the status of the fluoridation bids that were received November 1st.  Because the bids came in higher than expected, the town met with the Department of Health and got the department to reverse itself on a flow meter that it had initially requested be added to the design. The reversal reduced the cost of the project by $200,000, for a net cost of $849.970.

The town has an $901,500 state grant for the project. The town has already spent $209,000 for the design, leaving a $157,470 shortfall needed to complete the project.  Mr. Quinn will meet with the water superintendent and the town comptroller to  review the financing situation.

The board voted to advertise for bids for the construction of a fluoridation facility for the Catskill Water supply.

Referring to a recent Facebook post by Councilman Lachterman, during Courtesy of the Floor, Mark Lieberman suggested that social media was not the place to discuss the issue.  While he supported fluoridation, he suggested that if the board was having second thoughts about proceeding with its prior approval to install a new fluoridation system, the issue should  be discussed at the board level.  

Once Courtesy was closed, several board members addressed the issue. Councilman Lachterman said that the board should listen to the public and possibly poll the public whether it wants to proceeds; he said he has done a poll. He said he didn’t mean to open a “pandora’s box” but that  fluoridation “shouldn’t be pushed down people’s throats” and that the board didn’t have to proceed with the project despite its earlier votes in 2018 to do so. He has asked for the issue to be put on the April 9 work session agenda.

Supervisr Gilbert said he believed the issue had been settled and that unless he was made aware of any overwhelming changes, he didn’t see a reason to change course, but added that he has an open mind.

Councilman Roker noted that the original hearing on whether to proceed with fluoridation was held in 2013 and that perhaps the board should hold a new hearing.

Councilman Patel supported fluoridation and Councilman Diana was silent on the issue.