NARROWSBURG – The proposed pavilion project at the town park in the Flats community in the town of Tusten continues to draw resident’s attention as spokespeople for a group titled “Friends of the Flats” announced its creation before the Town Board at its meeting on January 16.

One spokesperson of the Friends and resident of the Flats neighborhood, Anthony, noted during public comment that a handful of Flats residents have been gathering with the goal of the fledgling group to distill information and advocate for their concerns and intentions to become more involved in working with civic organizations, such as the Town Board.

Following the group’s introduction, spokespeople announced their uniform goals, which include “promoting and encouraging neighborliness, community spirit and support, to help make the neighborhood a friendlier, safer and more attractive place to live,” and “to maintain the integrity, aesthetics and character of the Flats neighborhood.”

Supporters of the Friends of the Flats who attended the meeting noted that enrollment in the group requires one to live and own property in the Flats, and there are no fees necessary to join. 

Newly-elected Town Board member Cass Collins noted that the group may go contrary to their attempts at inclusion, as only residents of the Flats are eligible to join. This notion was refuted by another Friends of the Flats supporter, who said the broadness of the goals of the group encouraged inclusion, and asked the board their thoughts on what would be a good way to create connection within the community as a whole.

“You have got to have an open ground,” Collins said. “I don’t think you should limit it to people who live or own property in the Flats.”

Flats’ resident Starr Hesse noted that Collins, being on the Town Board, trumps her status as a resident of the Flats, to which Collins noted that gives her all the more reason to know what is going on within the town and “what the community cares about.”

Board member Bruce Gettel noted that all of his life he has lived in the town of Tusten but in different neighborhoods, and noted the importance of being able to separate where you live from your status as a Town Board member.

One of the spokespeople for the group noted that “it’s a young group” which allows for “quite a bit of internal diversity.”

Contracts, agreements and appointments 

An ambulance service contract was signed between the Town Board and the Tusten Ambulance Corps at the meeting on January 16. 

The ambulance service shall receive $30,000.00 annually, which is intended to assist in affording the necessary equipment, medical supplies and trained ambulance crew. The contract will expire December 31, 2024.

Additionally, two agreements were signed by the town, both with the Tusten Youth Commission. The agreements fulfill the town’s wish to facilitate the funding for the benefit of the Tusten Recreation Program, which will receive $22,000, and the Tusten Youth Club, which will receive $2,000.

These payments are reimbursements from funds received from the State of New York through the Sullivan County Youth Services. The Tusten Youth Commission will use those funds disbursed to them by the Town of Tusten for the use and benefit of the youth in the Town of Tusten.  

The Town Board meeting also saw the official acceptance of the resignation of the town’s Sole Assessor, Ken Baim, who was appointed as the Part Time Office Clerk to the Assessor, working at a rate of $35 per hour under now Acting Assessor, Margaret (Peg) Harrison.

Other appointments included former Town Board member, Jane Luchsinger, being reappointed to the Conservation Advisory Council with an unexpired term ending in 2028, and Tammy Cutler as the first Deputy Animal Control Officer (ACO) and Town Clerk Crystal Weston as the second Deputy ACO.