HomeMy WebLinkAboutAlan Peet Illarch 7, 2016
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To: Council Members Bruch and Collins
MAR 7 2016 �1
Cc: City Manager AlfcKeen
&ITY OF PORT ANGELES
Re: Ad Hoc Committee to A:xplore 1171,10ridation Alternatives CITY CLARK
Dear Council Nlernbers Bruch and Collins,
We are writing to inform you of our concerns as they relate to the upcoming Ad Hoc Committee meetings. As you have stated, the Committee was/brined in the spirit of cooperation and
compromise, and was originally stated to have 2 Pro-fl2rvrr'de members, 2 Anti-
Neutral ide, 2
Neutral and a member from the City's Utility Advisoty Committee.
Utr/ortunately, during the first meeting of the committee on March 2, the previously stated
representatives were not present. In addition, the paid national spokesman for the National
Fluoride Action Network replaced Janet Kadin, a Sequin' resident. The School Superintendent,
and the member from the Z ldity Advisory Cornrniltee, both stated they were not in support of
cornrnunity fluoridated water. Clearly, this will be a problem.
We agreed to participate on the committee in good/aith with the intention to discuss viable
options for those in our community who do not wish to drink,fluoridated water, and come to
consensus and abide by the ground rules laid out during the meeting.
There was heated discussion,from the anti-fluoride side to amend the ground rules to reflect
their desire allow discontinuation of flaroridating the city's water. 'There was discussion about
what "consensus" would mean to the group, and what exactly the desired outcome would he to
support it.. Considering that the committee appears to have been slacked with opponents to
fluoridation, we are concerned it will be skewed from its original purpose.
Further, we believe the best way to prove the comunittee toward consensus is to have a certified
mediator facilitate the discussion at each meeting. We hope volt will understand what changes
need to be made in order to achieve a desirable outcome for both sides of the issue. A moderator
could truly be unbiased, unlike the rest bfus, including city sigl and Council Members.
Finally, due to our busy work schedules we request the start time/br any subsequent meetings be
moved to S:30prn. The later tithe will allow us to participate in person. Neither one of us will be
able to participate in person or by phone on iWarch yrr'for the meeting due to prior commitments.
Thank you and we look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
Dr. Alan L. Peet, President O)yrnpie Peninsula Dental Sociely
Gregory A. Royak, DIES