SEEKONK - Selectmen have appointed four members to the newly formed Community Preservation Commission.

John Alves, Susan Waddington, William Mason and Michael Kreyssig will serve on the nine-member board and oversee implementation of the Community Preservation Act approved by voters in April.

Statewide, 140 towns have adopted the Community Preservation Act, which establishes a fund for the protection of open space, preservation of historic buildings and the creation of affordable housing.

Funds in Seekonk will be generated by a $29 surcharge for the average resident's tax bills.

There were six applicants for the commission who sent letters of interest to selectmen. One candidate withdrew his name from consideration at the last moment. Selectmen interviewed Alves, Waddington, Mason, Kreyssig, and Joann Buckley.

Alves, Waddington, and Mason had all served on previous town boards.

Selectman Michael Brady explained his vote for Kreyssig, who is a member of the Republican Town Committee, saying Kreyssig would provide needed oversight to the commission.

Kreyssig "will watch and learn and see where the money's going," Brady said.

Kreyssig had opposed the CPA, but vowed to make sure money is allocated "in a responsible way."

Alves told selectmen the approval of the CPA by voters was "a vote for the future" of Seekonk.