NARROWSBURG, NY — Tusten’s contested pavilion project still has not gone out to bid, as the town awaits minor money-saving adjustments to the architectural design recommended by the building department.

Supervisor Ben Johnson now expects the request for proposals to go out in May and that the town will start receiving bids by June or July.
But bids will give only an initial idea of the cost. Johnson said the pavilion will eventually need to include a flush toilet built to planning and zoning regulations. The initial plan does not include the toilet, so the cost estimates won’t include them either, he said.

One resident noted the difficulty in accessing the project without knowing the real full cost.

Resident Iris Helfeld, who has been critical of the project, said it’s being driven by the board, not the people. Most people in the Narrowsburg flats don’t want the project moving forward, she said. Johnson said the board is obliged to consider the entire town, not just the wants or needs of one small area.

”The board has to understand that we serve all the residents of the Town of Tusten and have a public park that’s been there for decades that’s used by all the residents,” he said. “I believe that when you look at it in totality, we may be very short-sighted for not doing something because we have a portion of the public that doesn’t want it because they live there. I think it’s something the board needs to consider when they make the decision but I don’t think it should be the whole decision. We have heard concerns from people who live in the flats and have made concessions.”

Many families in town have attended board meetings to support the project.