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From: David Pinsonneault <dpinsonneault@lexingtonma.gov> Date: Thu, Oct 13, 2022 at 11:27 AM Subject: RE: Draft Articles for 2023 Spring Annual Town Meeting To: Gerry Paul <gerrypaul01@gmail.com> Cc: Joe Pato <jpato@lexingtonma.gov> Here are my comments on the proposed articles: Article TC1: Staff is okay with the increase to 36 months although it will require more administrative time. Article TC2: Staff is supportive but would like to understand the reasoning for this change. Article TC3: Staff does not support this change. The tree fund was set up to plant trees. The process for expending those funds is straightforward and it has been used to plant trees back into the community. This should be the main focus and should continue especially given the forecasted pressures on the general fund. Article TC4: Staff is okay with this but there should be term limits on the members and term limits for the chair. Thanks. From: Gerry Paul <gerrypaul01@gmail.com> Date: Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 8:56 AM Subject: Re: Draft Articles for 2023 Spring Annual Town Meeting To: David Pinsonneault <dpinsonneault@lexingtonma.gov> Cc: Joe Pato <jpato@lexingtonma.gov> Hi Dave, Thanks for your comments. With respect to #TC2, this would ensure visibility and discussion before the removal of Town Trees. This discussion might identify tradeoffs and solutions other than tree removals (or at least removal of fewer trees). It would also add clarity to future situations in which someone removes Town Trees that were not Public Shade Trees. On #TC3, although I mentioned the motivation in the Article description, I can probably do a better job emphasizing the importance of preserving large shade trees. It has now become common wisdom that large trees provide tremendous benefits and saving as many as possible is critically important. That's the driving force for this article: using monies in the Tree Fund not only to plant trees but to educate, incentivise and help the Town and public preserve their existing trees. Hopefully we can present a united front when these articles are presented to the Select Board and Town Meeting Thanks, Gerry