NARROWSBURG, NY — Fifteen minutes into the first meeting of the 2020 Tusten Town Board, there were signs that this board may second-guess the previous board’s community hall restroom remodel plan. At the January 2 organizational meeting, newly-elected supervisor Ben Johnson tabled discussion of the construction project until the next regular monthly board meeting on January 14, to permit more transparency.

In the interim, he’ll consult with the town’s building committee, town code enforcement officer Jim Crowley, and the project’s contractor, MJL Mechanical of Honesdale, to determine if two restrooms are necessary (building occupancy requirements may mandate that number) and what cost estimate now applies to a project that has been twice revised since the original estimate was submitted.

“I want the public to be here when decisions are made,” said Johnson, who anticipated a larger gallery at the regular January meeting than at the brief organizational meeting, held primarily to select board officers and to appoint and reappoint boards, committees and other non-elected officials.

Among those appointments, Jane Luchsinger was named deputy supervisor. Carol Ropke Nelson was named deputy town clerk and registrar. And town board member committee assignments are as follows:

Highway Committee: Bruce Gettel, Brandi Merolla

Water & Sewer Committee: Ben Johnson, Jane Luchsinger

Building Committee: Bruce Gettel, Jill Padua
Youth Committee: Jane Luchsinger, Jill Padua

Grants Committee: Jane Luchsinger

Energy Committee: Brandi Merolla

The Youth Committee, at the recommendation of its chair Crystal Weston, will be: Kelly Agar (vice chair), Lauren Smith (treasurer), Jocelyn Strumpfler (secretary), Doreen Wyss, DeEtte Saul and Nicky Foster.

Johnson announced that town attorney Jeff Clemente has indicated his intention to resign that position when a successor is found.
A full list of appointments can be found on the town’s website at bit.ly/TustenTownBoard.