Message to Our Membership |
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Dear Members,
We are looking forward to better times ahead and much to be grateful for in 2022. With that goal in mind, we encourage Scarsdale Forum members to engage with our committees, which provide a platform for all residents to work for the betterment of our Village and schools. Among our recent areas of inquiry, our members have endeavored to create safer streets, to curtail use of pesticides and landscape practices that are harmful to our health, to critically review public initiatives, and to re-imagine a more vibrant Village.
With best wishes for the New Year,
Sincerely,
Eli Mattioli,
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Notes from the Board of Directors |
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SAVE THE DATE: WITH MAYOR JANE VERON at the next
MEMBERSHIP MEETING on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 8:00 PM on Zoom. All Scarsdale Forum members and members of the public are welcome. Registration required, to be posted in next newsletter.
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Downtown Revitalization
The Downtown Revitalization Committee is continuing its study on the revitalization of Chase Park, the Village Green. The Committee will also be collaborating in a joint study with the Municipal Services and Fiscal Affairs groups on possible creation of a Business Improvement District in Scarsdale. We welcome your involvement, and encourage everyone to support our downtown merchants and "shop local." Please contact Chair Susan Douglass, susanudouglass@gmail.com.
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Education
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 , 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.
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Recreation
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.
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Scarsdale Fiscal Affairs
The Fiscal Affairs Committee is studying the Village's new budget process for 2022-23 and preparing for public budget meetings scheduled for January 18 and January 25. This is a great time to join the Committee to identify and study important budget issues and develop recommendations for the Committee's annual report. The Village Treasurer's 2022/2023 budget update can be found in the year end Village Board Work Session Agenda with attached budget schedule (Calendar on PDF page 26). Further work sessions after January continue through April 2022, when the budget will be adopted by the Board. The Committee will also be collaborating with the Municipal Services and Downtown Revitalization committees on study of a possible Business Improvement District in the Village. Please contact Chair Anne Hintermeister, ahintermeister@gmail.com.
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Municipal Services
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 has been tasked to collaborate with the Downtown Revitalization and Fiscal Affairs committees to study the potential for a Business Improvement District in the Village. The committee is following up 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. Additional information in Mayor Veron's November 2021 Community Update is recommended to all interested committee members. The Committee also plans on follow up with the Sustainability group regarding the status of Scarsdale's participation in New York State's Climate Smart Communities program. Please contact Chair Madelaine Eppenstein, meppenstein@eppenstein.com.
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Sustainability
The Sustainability Committee focuses not only on preparing for and mitigating the effects of climate change but supporting initiatives for an environmentally sustainable and healthy Scarsdale that will provide quality of life for village residents. Recognizing the absolute inter-dependency between the health of our environment and our own health, both present and future, the committee continues to support recycling, green energy, storm preparedness, and Scarsdale's Climate Smart Community initiatives.
Recent Committee initiatives have focused 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.
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 retail cannabis dispensaries until state regulations and local enforcement can offer assurances that our youth are safe from harms related to local recreational distribution and consumption. 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 LeFrancois Haber, dlefranc@montefiore.com.
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Zoning and Planning
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.
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Community Events, News & Resources |
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School Board Nominating Committee Election:
Middle School Auditorium Lobby, Tuesday January 11, 2022
Eligible Voters in person 7:00-10:00 AM and 2:00-9:00 PM
OR Vote by Mail-In Ballot postmarked and received by 4:00 PM on Tuesday January 11, 2022 at the U.S. Post Office, Heathcote Golden Horseshoe . Information on candidates, voting eligibility, how to vote by mail, and printable mail-in ballot here.
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Note re 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 same ID. Check the Village Board calendar here.
Dine and Shop the 'DALE
Scarsdale Forum Members: We are grateful when you make a tax-deductible contribution over and above your membership dues. You can make a donation online now. Any amount is greatly appreciated to support our educational programming and the important work of our committees in their effort to promote civic dialogue on the issues that directly affect your families and the quality of life for our community.
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Scarsdale Forum Inc.
Scarsdale Forum Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to community education through discussion and analysis of issues relevant to Scarsdale residents. Since 1904 the Forum has contributed meaningfully to village affairs through written reports, public speaker events and committee discussions. Membership is open to all Scarsdale and Mamaroneck Strip residents, regardless of citizenship status.
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