Town of Boothbay
Fluoride removal question heading to November ballot
Mon, 03/14/2022 - 12:00pm
Boothbay Selectmen voted, 5-0, March 9 to place a question seeking to remove fluoride from the local drinking water. Fluoride Opposition Committee’s Anna Christina Rogers, pictured, has worked with others for over a year to put the proposal to a public vote. BILL PEARSON/Boothbay Register
Boothbay region residents will vote next November on whether fluoride should remain in the local drinking water. Boothbay selectmen followed Southport selectmen’s lead in agreeing to put the question to a public vote. Boothbay and Southport along with Boothbay Harbor are members of the Boothbay Region Water District. In 2021, the Flouride Opposition Committee was formed by local residents to educate residents’ about potential long-term side effects of ingesting fluoride.
Among the ailments believed caused by ingesting fluoride are skeletal fluorosis which results in damaged joints and bones and dental fluorosis which results in faint white lines on the teeth.
Anna Christina Rogers of Boothbay Harbor is a FOC member. She joined after the group formed last year. Rogers spoke on behalf of the group. “All we’re asking is to put it to a vote,” she said. “Honestly, a lot of people don’t even know what it is? We want to educate the community about fluoride which includes whether it’s better used by ingesting or topically.”
In other action, selectmen met an hour earlier to discuss a new rental criteria for the Boothbay Common. Last month, selectmen lifted the moratorium on short-term rentals and those which didn’t charge an admission fee. Developing an application for events lasting three or more days is proving more difficult. Selectmen have reviewed other municipal applications for using town-owned property. Selectmen believe Brunswick’s is the most comprehensive. Selectmen directed Town Manager Dan Bryer to create a municipal property use similar to Brunswick’s to review at the next meeting.
Rising world-wide petroleum prices may be bad news for local road maintenance. Bryer reported skyrocketing costs would likely impact Maine’s Local Road and Assistance Program (LRAP). In past years, the town typically receives $60,000 to maintain local roads. Bryer reported a state gas tax funds the program. He told selectmen higher gasoline prices may result in lower program revenues. “The money may not be here this year,” he said
Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23 in the conference room.
