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 at their earliest convenience Committee Co-Chairs Ed Morgan at eamlaw@optonline.net, and Barry Meiselman at barwest2@aol.com.

The Committee worked jointly with the Municipal Services group on a Report exploring the possibility of creating a Business Improvement District (a "BID") in the Village Center. The Committee also compiled a summary of its reports for use in the planning stage of the Village's Complete Streets project, and members attended the Village consultant's walking audit of the downtown area and select roads on March 29. If you would like to participate or join the Downtown Revitalization Committee, please contact Chair Susan Douglass, susanudouglass@gmail.com.

The Education Committee, following its seminal Report on collaborative communications among school stakeholders, plans to explore: student mental health challenges, 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, and the Board of Education. Please Contact Chair Barry Meiselman, barwest2@aol.com.

The Rec 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. Any member interested in chairing the committee should contact President Eli Mattioli, elimattioli@gmail.com.

The SFA Committee released its Report commenting on the Village's Tentative Budget on March 28, 2022. Committee members will participate in the hearing on the budget on Tuesday April 5, 2022. The Board will vote to adopt a Village budget on April 26, 2022. All Forum members are encouraged to share their views on the budget with the Mayor and the Trustees. Please contact Chair Anne Hintermeister with any questions, ahintermeister@gmail.com.

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. Members worked with the DR Committee on the BID report, a project requested by the Village. Municipal Services has been following up on recommendations made in its joint Committee Report (with the Sustainability/Climate Resilience group) 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. 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. 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.