The Committee will be working on the development of a strategic plan, with goals, objectives, and actions designed to ensure that the Forum continues to carry out its mission and purposes well into the future. Forum members interested in participating are welcome to join us, and should contact Committee Co-Chairs Barry Meiselman at barwest2@aol.com and Ed Morgan at eamlaw@optonline.net.

The group's discussion at its May meeting included a proposal to hold regular Village events throughout summer into fall beginning in 2023, such as a street fair tied to Bicycle Sundays that invites participants to stop in Scarsdale to enjoy Village parks, shops, and restaurants. Although the Village would first have to approve the concept to move forward, Westchester County Executive George Latimer has expressed interest in the county's promotion of such Bicycle Sunday related events in Scarsdale. The Downtown Revitalization Committee will continue to share its ideas for downtown improvements, parking issues and place making in the green spaces with FHI Studio, the consulting firm retained by the Village. The Committee's next meeting is planned for July 14, 2022 at 8 p.m. If you would like to participate please join us. Contact Chair Susan Douglass, susanudouglass@gmail.com.

The Education Committee is preparing a report on student mental health challenges. The Committee also plans to explore: civics curriculum as it relates to elections, the process for the search for a new superintendent, and a variety of other issues having an impact on students, teachers, parents, and the Board of Education. See the Committee's seminal Report on collaborative communication among school stakeholders. Contact Chair Barry Meiselman, barwest2@aol.com.

The Recreation Committee agenda includes the condition and improvement of Village playing fields and parks, among other issues of importance to the community. The Committee will be participating in the joint committee work on the future of the Pool Complex. Chair Erin Rudensky.

The SFA Committee will be exploring a multi-committee updated report on leaf collection, which would follow up on the SFA March 2022 budget Report on the Village's Tentative Budget. The Committee will also be participating in a joint committee project on the future of the Pool Complex. Contact Chair Anne Hintermeister, ahintermeister@gmail.com.

The Municipal Services, Recreation, and Scarsdale Fiscal Affairs Committees will be joining forces to study and report on possible alternatives for the Village Pool Complex. Anyone interested in taking part in this joint committee project should contact Municipal Services Chair Madelaine Eppenstein, or Scarsdale Fiscal Affairs Chair Anne Hintermeister. More information about the Village Pool Complex project is included in the Municipal Pool Complex Market Study and Existing Conditions Survey here. The Village press release is here.

Municipal Services members are encouraged to participate in Village Board work sessions and hearings on Scarsdale's Complete Streets plan outlined in the "Village Center Strategic Mobility and Placemaking" RFP. Copies of the Committee's three traffic safety reports were re-submitted to the Village for use in the planning stage of its Complete Streets project (latest report link below).

Municipal Services continues its joint committee follow up on recommendations made in the Report on "Gas Leaf Blowers, Leaf Vacuuming, and Leaf Mulching" and in the most recent Municipal Services Report on traffic safety and implementation of complete streets and safe routes to schools policy and design. The Committee also plans on follow up with the Sustainability group and the Conservation Advisory Council regarding the status of Scarsdale's participation in New York State's Climate Smart Communities program. Contact Chair Madelaine Eppenstein, meppenstein@eppenstein.com.

The Committee supports initiatives for an environmentally sustainable and healthy environment that provides quality of life for village residents. Recognizing the absolute inter-dependency between the health of our environment and our own health, the Committee continues to support recycling, green energy, storm preparedness, and Scarsdale's Climate Smart Community initiative. Recent work focuses on: landscape management including the promotion of mulch mowing and grass recycling over street leaf pile vacuuming; a total ban on the use of gas blowers and the elimination of non-organic and environmentally harmful pesticide use; and year-round containerized pick-up of yard waste and excess leaves instead of the environmentally counterproductive practice of leaf vacuuming. The collaboration with other Forum committees produced the Report on banning smoking in outdoor village spaces and opting out of retail cannabis dispensaries until state regulations are promulgated and can be assessed. Both initiatives were adopted by the Village Board on December 14, 2021, and the no-smoking local law took effect on January 1, 2022. Contact Chair Darlene Le Francois Haber, dlefranc@montefiore.com.