Tusten in uproar over Narrowsburg School

Posted 8/21/12

NARROWSBURG, NY — At the Tusten Town Board meeting last night, about 100 citizens came to voice their opinion against the Narrowsburg School becoming a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center—and …

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Tusten in uproar over Narrowsburg School

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NARROWSBURG, NY — At the Tusten Town Board meeting last night, about 100 citizens came to voice their opinion against the Narrowsburg School becoming a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center—and they did so loudly. Joan Buto, who won the bid for the school, made her first public appearance at the meeting, and she was met with many questions, criticisms and opposition.

Buto and her lawyer Bob Lander came to the meeting to assuage people’s fears of the imminent rehab and to answer their questions. “After hearing the public outcry and concern, we thought it best to come here, Joan and I, to look you in the eye and explain what is going to happen,” Lander said. “We are not going to be evil,” he added.

Lander made a short presentation, saying that the future residents at the rehab would be there willingly and not mandated by the court. They would also be allowed to leave at any time and they would immediately be transported back to where they came from. They would not be allowed to roam the streets, and must stay in the facility at all times. If they must leave, the facility would have vans to take them to where they need to go.

Lander’s presentation was met with shouting from some of the people in attendance. And when Buto got up to speak, there was even more shouting. Supervisor Carol Wingert frequently had to tell people to not speak when other people are speaking, and she said if they do they will be asked to leave. “You need to be polite and respectful,” she said.

Buto said she wants to be a part of the community, and live and work here. She said their rehab facility in Florida, Changes, has two locations. One is an apartment building in a residential area, and the other is the medical facility located in a strip mall between a day care and a restaurant, and there have been no complaints. Citizens demanded documents, licenses, and names of people who live near the rehab so they can contact them. She said she will own and operate the rehab here, and that she is the sole buyer of the building and did not receive funding from investors. Buto also said they will have 24-hour security.

Narrowsburg resident Iris Helfeld prepared many questions for Buto, among them asking how Buto has had such success with the rehab in Florida in one year, has she conducted any research to determine how many Narrowsburg residents would be qualified to be employed at the rehab, which business would they support, and what makes the school ideal for a rehab?

Other residents also raised the question of “why the school?” Tony Staffieri mentioned that there are other closed rehabs in the area, and there is one for sale across the river in Pennsylvania. “Why would you want the school more than that?” he asked. She replied “I just like the school better.”

He added, “This is the worst business plan I have heard in my life.” He asked people to raise their hands if they are against this plan, and almost everyone did. “Ms. Buto, welcome to Narrowsburg,” he said. “We’d love to have you live here, but not work here.”

Kathy Michell spoke about the Weidens offer. “We have the opportunity to create a community center to provide educational, recreational, and small business opportunities, which will give people choices so they don’t need Changes.”

The public comment period was cut short due to a tornado warning. The meeting is rescheduled for tonight at 7:00 p.m.

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