PHILLIPSTON — Have an idea for affordable housing, historic preservation, open space or recreation? If so, the town’s Community Preservation Committee wants to hear it.

The CPC is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, the purpose of which is to discuss its mission and possible uses for the town’s Community Preservation Act funds. According to CPC Chairman Peter Travisano, the town has well over $1 million in CPA funds.

Travisano added that the current committee membership is new and not much has been done between the changeover and COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, much of the funds accrued over the years has not been spent.

“We want to work together to get to this money out there,” he said.

Passed in 2000 by then-Gov. Paul Cellucci, the CPA was designed as a smart growth tool to help cities and towns preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing, and develop outdoor recreational facilities. This is paid for through a surcharge of not more than 3% of property taxes, which the state matches, up to 100%. Phillipston’s surcharge is 1%, according to Travisano.

The town joined the CPA program in 2007. Over the years, some funding has been spent on the Town Hall annex facade and front doors and preservation of the library, among other projects.

To date, 195 communities have adopted the CPA, according to the Community Preservation Coalition website. Doing so is entirely voluntary, and a municipality can withdraw at any time. Among the rules of the CPA is that 30% of the money collected be allocated for open space/historic preservation, affordable housing and recreational, at 10% each. This money can be spent the year it is set aside or later. An additional 5% can be set aside for administrative purposes, with the rest going to a general fund.

Applications for Phillipston’s CPA funding can be sent to the committee, which reviews them before sending on to Town Meeting for final approval. According to Travisano, there is no limit to how much can be included in a single grant.

Travisano said the committee looks for projects which have multiple benefits to the community, and it will prioritize more urgent ones. A project can have multiple sources of funding and still qualify for a CPA grant. The deadline for applications is Dec. 31, and money would be made available following Town Meeting approval.

For more information, contact the CPC at communitypreservation@phillipston-ma.gov.

Max Bowen can be reached at 413-930-4074 or at mbowen@recorder.com.