Monroe committee declines to advance repeal of fluoridation ordinance

The Monroe Judiciary & Ordinance Review Committee voted on a motion to recommend repeal of Monroe City Code section 8-4-10 (fluoridation of city water) and the motion failed on a 2-2 roll call, so the committee did not advance the ordinance to full council for a required public hearing.

Committee discussion centered on two competing themes: whether the committee should rely on existing public-health recommendations and established science to keep fluoridation in place, and whether more recent studies or local preferences justify repealing the code. A committee member who argued against repeal said the city should not “get bogged down” with issues raised by a small number of constituents and that “the science, the legitimate science shows that this is still, a fluoridation is still the best way to go.” A different member urged delay, saying elected officials “are here for the public” and the committee lacked sufficient local public input and additional medical studies to justify repeal.

Staff advised the committee that because fluoridation is codified in the city code, repealing it requires following the municipal ordinance process: a committee recommendation, council action, and a public hearing (staff referenced code provisions and said a December 2 hearing date had been discussed if the committee recommended repeal). After discussion, a motion to repeal “as written” was made and seconded; the clerk’s roll call recorded Aye votes from Alders Cleveland and Tolman and No votes from Alders Grenzo and Miller, producing a 2-2 tie and leaving the ordinance in place for now.

The committee did not set a next step on the repeal itself at the meeting; if the committee changes its recommendation later or the full council moves to suspend rules as described by staff, the mayor could set a public hearing at a later date.