USA - NORTH ATTLEBORO may put fluoride to vote

North may put fluoride to vote
BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Friday, January 26, 2007 11:59 PM EST
NORTH ATTLEBORO - Voters may get another chance to weigh in on fluoride, with selectmen Chairman John Rhyno planning to ask the board to place the issue on the ballot. While selectmen have urged fluoridation opponents for more than a year to put the issue back before voters, there has been no move to do so.
In fact, fluoride opponents, including board of health members, say the issue should not be left to a "popularity contest" because they view it as a public health issue.
Fed up with the controversy, Rhyno said he is ready to place the issue on the ballot himself.
"I honestly think we have more of a chance of solving the Iran nuclear crisis than this fluoride issue. It's crazy," Rhyno said. "If the members of the board of health who are against fluoride wanted this issue to be resolved, they would put it on the ballot." Rhyno pointed out that town counsel has determined that since voters approved fluoride in 2000, voters are the only ones with the power to remove it.The board of health is suing the department of public works because it has refused to stop fluoridating the water, based on the opinion from town counsel.

Weird, usually the opposite happens councils against and the health board all for fluoridation.