Town Board asks Village Trustees to remove fluoride from Village water supply in 3–1 vote

The Town of Horseheads on June 10 passed a nonbinding resolution asking the Village of Horseheads Board of Trustees, acting as the Water Board, to remove fluoride from the Village public water supply.

Resolution #116 (motion by Joseph C. Brennan, seconded by Arthur Laurey) passed with three votes in favor (Laurey, Brennan and Supervisor Donald J. Fischer), one vote opposed (Gary H. Riopko) and Councilman Carl R. Lewis absent. The resolution urged the Village Trustees to consider removing fluoride because many Town residents who live outside the Village rely on the Village system and cannot opt out at the source; it also said that private filtration systems impose a financial burden on those residents.

Councilman Brennan introduced the resolution and said residents have concerns about fluoride being added to drinking water and that household filtration is costly. Donna Little, a resident, told the board she had researched fluoride and said she believes it can cause health issues; she said toothpaste warnings and examples of other states guided her position. In contrast, resident Roxanne Mark told the board she had researched the topic and supports fluoridation, citing the Centers for Disease Control’s view that community water fluoridation is a major public-health achievement in the 20th century.

Town officials and the resolution text noted that the Village Trustees, acting as the Water Board, have authority over treatment decisions. The Town’s resolution is a formal request and not binding on the Village; it directs the Town Clerk to transmit a certified copy to the Village Board of Trustees.