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FORUM FOCUS
February 2023
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Message to Our Membership | |
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Dear Members,
Happy February -- and the groundhog says we're going to have another six weeks of winter. Try beating the winter doldrums by getting involved in community activities. Please attend our Forum members' meeting in person at the Scarsdale Library or via Zoom next Thursday, February 9, to hear Ben Boykin, our Westchester County Legislator. Come at 7:30 to meet and greet your neighbors for refreshments; the meeting starts at 8:00 pm. View the video of our Sunday Speaker event held on January 29 featuring renowned Yale Constitutional law and history Professor Akhil Reed Amar. Read our newsletter below to see what our various committees are doing, and join one or more if you see projects of interest.
With warm regards,
Susan Douglass, President
susanudouglass@gmail.com
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Notes from the Board of Directors | |
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UPCOMING MEMBERSHIP MEETING: GUEST SPEAKER Westchester County Legislator Ben Boykin, Thursday, February 9, 2023 with in person refreshments at 7:30 pm at Scarsdale Library, program begins at 8:00 pm -- in person and on Zoom. All Scarsdale Forum members and members of the public are welcome. No in person registration required. For Zoom login click "register" HERE.
SAVE THE DATE: MEMBERSHIP MEETING March 9, 2023 with NYS Senator Shelley Mayer
NOTE: Care to share the cookies or appetizers you enjoy making? Now that the Forum is holding in person events, the Hospitality Committee is looking for additional volunteers to occasionally supplement the usual refreshments with some homemade treats. To sign up please contact Co-Chairs BK Munguia, beeks58@aol.com, or Lena Crandall, lena.crandall@verizon.net.
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COMMITTEE and BOARD UPDATES | | |
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Development
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.
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Downtown Revitalization
The Downtown Revitalization and Municipal Services Committees issued a report on October 2, 2022 regarding place making and mobility issues in the Village Center, referencing the report of Village consultant FHI Studio and also presenting the committee's original ideas. Village Trustee Sameer Ahuja, liaison to the DR Committee, had requested a follow-up summary of "low-hanging fruit" and priorities for early action, consistent with a "tactical urbanism" approach of low-cost and incremental implementation. In preparing the summary, the joint committees drew on prior Scarsdale Forum reports and covered the following categories of proposed areas for improvement: safety, place making, events, beautification and conservation, parking and way finding, branding and marketing, and a business improvement district and funding. The DR Committee will continue to review and report on progress made on Village Center improvements. If you would like to participate please join us. Contact Chair Susan Douglass, susanudouglass@gmail.com.
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Education
The Education Committee's latest innovative Report, New Strategies for Promoting Well-Being and Addressing Mental Health Issues within Scarsdale's Schools, was released to the public on December 5, 2022. The report is available here. Recommendations and areas for further study will be proposed and shared with district administrators and the Board of Education. See also the committee's seminal Report on modalities of collaborative communication among school stakeholders. Join the committee to participate. Contact Chair Barry Meiselman, barwest2@aol.com.
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Recreation
The Recreation Committee is evaluating current conditions and usage of our parks, fields, paths, green spaces and recreational facilities. Forum member and wider community input is welcome. Our goal is to provide timely feedback to the village so that it may budget accordingly. In addition, our committee is committed to partnering with the Scarsdale Fiscal Affairs and Municipal Services groups on the Pool Complex Project. We hope Forum members from all neighborhoods will join this dynamic and active group and provide feedback. If you would like to participate. Contact Chair Erin Rudensky, ejzerring@aol.com.
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Scarsdale Fiscal Affairs
Budget season is underway and committee members have been attending work sessions and studying the issues for the 2023-24 village budget. The Treasurer and Village department heads presented the First Pass budget at two work sessions in January. The First Pass proposals would increase Village taxes on the average home by 5.93%. Budget meetings will continue in February and March. Click here for the full schedule: https://www.scarsdale.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/177. The budget is being prepared using the Village's new ClearGov online software:
https://village-scarsdale-ny-budget-book.cleargov.com/8313/budget-overview/executive-overview. There is still time to join the committee and have a say in how the Board should prioritize competing financial needs and wants and how to pay for them. Contact Chair Anne Hintermeister, ahintermeister@gmail.com.
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Municipal Services
Updated information about the Village Pool Complex project is on the Village website here. Municipal Services has begun a study of the traffic issues on the Post Road consistent with our committee's prior recommendations made in the most recent Municipal Services Report on village-wide traffic safety and implementation of complete streets and safe routes to schools policy and design. We look forward to your input. 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; prior Forum recommendations on further restriction of gas leaf blowers; fall leaf collection; and the degradation of the Village tree canopy despite recent code regulations meant to preserve it. Education of the public on the dangers of widespread pesticide use on private property is another issue of continuing committee focus in view of the recent Village code amendment's broad pesticide ban on public property. Contact Chair Madelaine Eppenstein, meppenstein@eppenstein.com.
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Sustainability
The Committee supports initiatives for an environmentally sustainable and healthy environment that provides quality of life for village residents. Related to Committee Reports in 2018 and 2019, we supported the recent village code amendment covering "Pesticide Use on Village Property." The new local law bans chemical pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, etc. on Village properties and allows only organic landscape practices. Recognizing the absolute inter-dependency between the health of our environment and our own health, the Committee continues to support a number of potential green initiatives including, but not limited to, those geared toward recycling, green energy, storm preparedness, and NY State's Climate Smart Community initiative. A recent report focuses on the promotion of mulch mowing, the elimination of street leaf pile vacuuming, and a total ban on the use of gas blowers. Contact Chair Darlene Le Francois Haber, M.D., dlefranc@montefiore.com.
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Zoning and Planning
The Committee's focus continues to be on supporting the long term growth and development of our Village to improve quality of life and sustainability by providing thoughtful analysis and recommendations for existing and proposed codes. Topics currently being prioritized include: elevation of structures in flood prone areas; requirements for new buildings to utilize heat pumps; installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations downtown and at other locations; and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The Committee has a supporting role working closely with other Forum committees such as Municipal Services, Downtown Revitalization, and Sustainability. Anyone interested in joining the Zoning and Planning Committee or learning more contact Chair David Fenigstein, Fenigstein.david@gmail.com.
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County Fiscal Affairs
In mid-October 2022, the County Executive released the proposed capital budget, which makes investments in environmental conservation, flood mitigation, the County Parks System, and affordable housing. In November the operating budget was released, with detail on the various programs and services the County provides and how they'll pay for it through sales tax, property tax, and other revenue. Those draft plans were handed over to the Board of Legislators who had to amend and pass them by early December. Our committee Report was distributed to the legislators within this tight time frame. For more information please reach out to Chair Tim Foley at tim@commanderfoley.com.
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Community Events, News & Resources | |
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Message from Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee:
The School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) is seeking potential candidates to serve on the Scarsdale Board of Education. The SBNC invites all Scarsdale School District residents to propose names of qualified individuals to serve on the Scarsdale Board of Education by email to sbncchair@gmail.com. A candidate must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a qualified voter, and a resident of the Scarsdale School District for at least one year prior to the May 16th school board election. Candidates should complete a biographical information form and submit it via email to sbncchair@gmail.com as soon as possible, but no later than 7:00pm on Thursday, February 16, 2023. The application form is available on the SBNC website www.scarsdalesbnc.com. Please see the “Join the School Board” tab or contact the SBNC Chair for further information.
Jonathan Lemle, Chair
Deborah Skolnik, Vice-Chair
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SCARSDALE FORUM invites you to join us as we tackle the subjects described in more detail in the Committee Update section. Members may consider joining any one, several or all Scarsdale Forum committees listed on the website. No prior experience with the subject matter is required. Join here.
VILLAGE BOARD MEETINGS and WORK SESSIONS: Village Board meetings are regularly open to the public at Village Hall or via Zoom webinar at https://zoom.us/j/93183703358, or call in using 1-929-436-2866 and entering the Meeting ID 931 8370 3358. The Zoom login uses the same ID. Sign up for updates here. Check the Village Board calendar here.
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Scarsdale Forum Inc.
www.scarsdaleforum.com
Scarsdale Forum Inc. is the 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to community education through discussion and analysis of issues relevant to Scarsdale residents. Since 1904, Scarsdale Forum has contributed meaningfully to village affairs through written reports, prominent speaker programs, social gatherings and other public events. Membership is available to all Scarsdale and Mamaroneck Strip residents, regardless of citizenship status. The Forum Focus newsletter is distributed to Scarsdale Forum members generally during the first week of each month. Pertinent information should be sent to communications@scarsdaleforum.com one week prior to publication to be included in the coming issue. Media Contact: communications@scarsdaleforum.com
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