PELHAM - Voters supported the Community Preservation Act by a 46-vote margin at the annual town election Saturday.

The measure will add a 2½ percent surcharge on property taxes to pay for historic preservation and open space conservation projects. It was approved by a vote of 147-101, Town Clerk Kathy Martell said.

Saturday's vote also saw former Pelham police chief Edward Fleury win a seat as the town's representative to the Hampshire Council of Government. He received nine write-in votes and there were no candidates on the ballot.

Fleury resigned amid a controversy over a gun show he ran during which an 8-year-old boy was killed after he shot himself in the head with a machine gun. Fleury was acquitted of charges in that case,

Also Saturday, Wendy Weinberg was the top vote getter for a seat on the Board of Assessors, with three write-in votes.

Martell said she would contact both Fleury and Weinberg to see if they are willing to serve.

Most of the attention in Saturday's election was focused on the CPA. Advocates of historic preservation and open space conservation projects threw their strong support behind the measure and held a series of public information sessions in the run-up to Saturday's vote. Among its supporters were Joseph Larson, chairman of the Historical Commission, and Dana MacDonald, chairman of the Conservation Commission.

While the CPA was not on the Town Meeting warrant, it did generate some discussion during consideration of a proposed $40,000 painting project at Old Town Hall, Tom Lederle noted that such projects could be funded from the CPA in future years.

"It would free money from our annual budget," Lederle said.

Among those who objected to the CPA was Daniel Rose who said, "That would be a tax increase."

Community preservation money raised by the town through the tax surcharge is matched by the state and can be used for projects to increase affordable housing and recreation as well as preservation and conservation.

Ben Storrow can be reached at bstorrow@gazettenet.com.