TUSTEN, NY — A new group has formed in Narrowsburg to protect the Flats and promote all-around neighborliness.

But a newly elected town board member says she is suspicious of a group that excludes some people—including elected officials like herself.

The initiative started with a proposal back in August to build a pavilion down on the Flats, for which the Town of Tusten had secured a grant. Although the pavilion has been divisive—signs around town read “PLANT TREES NOT PAVILIONS”—members of the Tusten Youth Commission packed a town hall meeting in November to advocate for having facilities in town where families can gather.

Kevin Lombardo listed the goals of the new group at the town board’s January meeting. It is a way to share information and discuss issues that affect residents of the Flats, he said.

There are no dues to be a “formal member of the group,” he said. But to join Friends of the Flats, one must live or own property on the Flats and not be a current elected official. 

Cass Collins, a newcomer to the board, expressed concern about the closed group. She asked if there was a test to get in.

Eugene Wolff, a Friends of the Flats member, told the River Reporter that the group welcomes a diversity of opinions.

“If you think the pavilion is a great idea, you’re welcome to join,” he said. 

For anyone who meets the membership requirements and agrees with the group’s overarching goals, you’re in, he said. To join, email friendsoftheflats@aol.com.

Collins said she found the group to be “exclusionary” and didn’t understand why there couldn’t be open membership.

Wolff told the River Reporter the next day that his group was “a little bit surprised by the reaction from Cass Collins last night.” 

“We tried to be as open and inclusive as possible,” he said. “We wanted to exclude elected officials because people would be more open without the formal presence of an official.”

Wolff says there are “north of 30” members in the group, with a range of ages. “There are some generational divides,” he said, “but it’s “positive and interesting to hear different perspectives.”

Wolff said joining the group has widened his own perspective. “Who would have dreamed a poorly planned pavilion proposal would bring so many people together?” he said.

Although the group was born from the pushback on the pavilion, he sees the group as a positive force. It has already held a candidate forum during the election for town board and has attended the recent sewer rate budget meeting. The town supervisor, Ben Johnson, noted the increased attendance at the meeting. 

Wolff says the group hopes to do an open house in the spring and discuss how the town should spend the American Rescue Plan Act funds.

The Friends' mission

The Friends of the Flats say their mission is:

To promote and encourage neighborliness, community spirit and mutual support

To help make our neighborhood a safe, friendly and attractive place to live

To maintain the integrity, aesthetics and residential character of the Flats neighborhood. This includes:

Protection of the environment and its natural features

Minimizing noise and light pollution

Pedestrian and cyclist safety

To prevent crime and destructive acts

To stay informed and productively engage with Town government and other civic organizations regarding fiscal and environmental issues that impact the entire Tusten community.