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 Ed Morgan at eamlaw@optonline.net, and Barry Meiselman at barwest2@aol.com.

The group's discussion at its May meeting included a concept 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. Also discussed was the Boniface Circle perennial plant initiative of the Village in collaboration with Friends of Scarsdale Parks in which DR committee members are heavily involved, and other ideas for beautifying Boniface and the village center in general. The DR committee will continue to share its ideas for downtown improvements with FHI Studio, the consulting firm retained by the Village. The next meeting is planned for July 14, 2022. If you would like to participate, join the Committee, or have any questions, please contact Chair Susan Douglass, susanudouglass@gmail.com.

The Education Committee is preparing a report on student mental health challenges in time for Forum Board review at its June meeting. 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. Please contact Chair Barry Meiselman, barwest2@aol.com.

The Rec Committee agenda includes the condition of the playing fields and bicyclist safety, among other recreation issues of importance to the community. The Committee will be participating in the joint committee work on the future of the Pool Complex. Contact President Eli Mattioli, elimattioli@gmail.com.

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 new joint committee project on the future of the Pool Complex. Please contact Chair Anne Hintermeister with any questions, 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. Forum members are encouraged to participate in the current Village-wide survey regarding the pool. The village pool 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. The next Village Board Work Session is scheduled for .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.

Municipal Services continues a 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. Please 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 initiatives. 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. Please contact Chair Darlene Le Francois Haber, dlefranc@montefiore.com.