The Downtown Revitalization Committee is studying potential projects for the revitalization of Chase Park, the Village Green. We welcome your involvement, and encourage everyone to support our downtown merchants and "shop local." Please contact Chair Susan Douglass, susanudouglass@gmail.com.

Education

The Education Committee, following its Report on collaborative communications among school stakeholders, has been continuing work on major topics that have emerged over the last several years including civics education and participation. Its agenda may focus on a variety of issues having an impact on students, teachers, and the Board of Education. Please Contact Chair Barry Meiselman, barwest2@aol.com.

The Recreation Committee agenda includes the condition of the playing fields, the Pool Complex, and bicyclist safety, among other recreation issues of importance to the community. More information about the Village Pool Complex project is included in the Municipal Pool Complex Market Study and Existing Conditions Survey here. Please contact Chair Jeremy Gans, jeremy.gans@jdjcapital.com.

Village internal 2022-23 budget discussions began in October. In his November 23, 2021 comments, the Village Manager promised a transparent process with many opportunities for public involvement. The first opportunity is a December 14, 2021 work session that will focus on the budget timeline and current year (2021-22) projections. Additional work sessions will take place in January (hopefully, these will include the day-long public meetings with department heads that have traditionally been part of the village budget process), and will continue through April 2022 when the budget will be adopted by the Board. The Committee is looking forward to public access to complete financial information, including advance posting of documents discussed at work sessions, and the opportunity to comment and request information about budget matters. Please contact Chair Anne Hintermeister, ahintermeister@gmail.com if you would like to join the committee.

Municipal Services members look forward to participation in Village Board work sessions and hearings on Scarsdale's Complete Streets plan, also known as the Village Center Strategic Mobility and Placemaking RFP. The committee is continuing efforts on recommendations made in its 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. Mayor Veron's recent Community Update is required reading for all interested committee members. Please contact Chair Madelaine Eppenstein, meppenstein@eppenstein.com.

Current initiatives focus on: landscape management including the promotion of mulch mowing and grass recycling over leaf blowing and vacuuming; a 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. Our committee supports and promotes all recycling including composting food scraps other organic waste.

Many of these and other areas of study have been achieved in partnership with other Forum committees such as Municipal Services, Downtown Revitalization and Fiscal Affairs including the recent Forum Report which recommended banning smoking on outdoor village property as well as opting out of Village cannabis sales until state regulations and local enforcement can offer assurances that (primarily) our youth are safe from harms related to local recreational distribution and consumption.

Future areas of study are expected to intersect with these and potentially other committees, for example, sustainable zoning to ensure adequate storm drainage and other severe storm preparedness issues. Green energy is also a key area of inter-committee interest. Please contact Sustainability Chair Darlene LeFrancois Haber, dlefranc@montefiore.com.

The scope of the Zoning and Planning Committee covers zoning issues generally and in the context of future development. Any member interested in chairing the committee should contact President Eli Mattioli, elimattioli@gmail.com.