- April 26, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The commission decided the $45,910 cost of a special referendum by mail was too high.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
The fluoridation issue in Ormond Beach took another turn Tuesday night, this time in an effort to save money.
The Ormond Beach City Commission, on Dec. 4, unanimously voted down an ordinance that would’ve called for a referendum election by mail to determine if the city should continue to fluoridate its water supply, citing the estimated $45,910 cost as too high.
Concern over the effectiveness of a mail ballot and residents’ general knowledge of fluoride also played a factor in the vote.
The Dec. 4 vote was a change in direction for the commission, which decided Oct. 16 to seek residents’ opinions on fluoride via a mailed ballot.
But once the cost of preparing the ballot and mailing an estimated 30,000 to residents was revealed Dec. 4, the commission voted down the ordinance and will instead discuss the issue at future workshops and public forums, before eventually putting the issue on a general election ballot.
“I don’t think, when we were discussing the idea of having a referendum, and having this matter decided, that we appreciated the cost,” City Commissioner Rick Boehm said. “I certainly didn’t. I was frankly amazed when I saw the figures from the Supervisor of Elections.”
According to the Supervisorof Elections’ Office, an estimated 30,000 ballots would have to be sent out, costing the city $44,400 in envelopes, postage and the physical ballots, among other expenses.
Additional estimated costs to the city included $90.00 for the program voting system; $120 of overtime pay for two staff members for four hours ($15 per hour); $1,100 to advertise the ballot and $200 for supplies for a canvassing board.
“I would prefer the vote happen during a general election, where more people are going to be involved,” City Commissioner Troy Kent said. “I mean, a mail ballot? Most people throw away their mail. They don’t even read it.”
Mayor Ed Kelley downplayed the need for an immediate vote at the estimated cost, saying the water has been fluoridated since 1957, and he wasn’t aware of any Ormond Beach resident complaining of severe fluorosis.
“I’m not here to speak for or against fluoridation,” resident Sandy Dunn said, during the public forum portion of the meeting. “But I’m here to speak about when you’re going to do this. … I don’t believe there’s anybody in this room who really knows what happens with fluoridation, when you put that chemical in the water.
“To debate it without proper knowledge is, to me, really sick. To put out $45,000 for a special election on something that nobody knows anything about, is even sicker.”
The commission could have withdrawn the ordinance or continued it indefinitely, and brought it back at a later date. But to bring the issue back during a general election, the language in the ordinance referred to a special mail ballot, the commission simply voted against the ordinance.
Commission approves CBA
The commission approved a collective bargaining agreement between the city and the General Employees’ Association.
The previous agreement expired in 2010, and the new agreement was ratified Oct. 4, by members of the bargaining unit. According to the city, the agreement “will become effective on the date it is last executed by the respective parties and will remain in effect until September 30, 2013, or until a new agreement is reached.”
Among the changes from the previous CBA, new hires will be ineligible for a defined benefit plan, and will instead participate in a defined contribution plan, which will include a city contribution of 6% of an employee’s base compensation.
