Voters approved passage of the Community Preservation Act by a comfortable margin on Saturday.

The CPA is a state law that allows towns to add an additional property tax assessment and set the money aside for open space, historic or community housing-related projects. Hanson voters approved the 1.5-percent property tax surcharge 492-260. The money set aside by the town is matched by the state.

In the past, the state has matched CPC funds at a 100-percent rate, but with a greater number of communities taking part, it is expected that the match will be closer to 60 to 70 percent.

“We’re pleased with the results from Saturday,” said Bob Sears. Sears is a member of the housing authority and chairman of Preserve Hanson, the group that formed to get the CPA on the town ballot.

The CPA passed at Town Meeting in October and at the most recent Town Meeting, voters approved the formation of a Community Preservation Commission.

“The town was proactive in getting the Community Preservation Committee set up,” said Sears. “Now, we’ll be able to ramp up with the new committee and understand the nuances (of the CPA).”

The nine-member Community Preservation Committee will be comprised of four at-large members and one member each from the Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Parks and Fields Commission, Housing Authority and the Planning Board.

Sears said the committee will review projects proposed by town committees or individuals. Residents will have the final say on CPC projects at Town Meeting.

According to proponents of the CPA, it is expected that Hanson will raise about $140,000 a year for community preservation projects.

While the members of Preserve Hanson have some ideas about where they might like to see some of that money spent, Sears said, those ideas were kept out of the debate leading up to the vote for the adoption of the CPA.

“While each of us have ideas, as a committee, we wanted to stay away from that,” Sears said. “We really didn’t have the authority as a ballot committee to say so and so should be getting money.”

In the other contested races on Saturday’s ballot, Planning Board incumbent Gordon Coyle was unseated by Ken Lawson, 393 to 307 and Tom Powers defeated Michael Jones 376 to 318 for a one-year seat on the Housing Authority.

“I’m extremely happy I won,” said Lawson. “I couldn’t have done it without my family, friends and my wife, Laura.”

Lawson said he was a big supporter of the CPA and also said he ran for office as a way to give back to the community.

While there will be two new faces on the Board of Selectmen, Steven Amico and Donald Howard ran unopposed to replace two selectmen who resigned from the board, Jesse McSweeney and Mark Gallivan. Incumbents Christopher Colcough and James Egan were unopposed for two three-year terms on the board.