From the swimming hole on Acushnet Road to centuries old letters tucked away in a resident’s home, Mattapoisett has its fair share of history, seen and unseen.

On Thursday, the Community Preservation Committee welcomed input on how it should define and preserve those historical resources.

The meeting was the first of four public input meetings the committee is hosting as it prepares to reassess its funding priorities, and update the town’s Community Preservation Act.

In 2007, residents approved the Act at Town Meeting, which allows one percent of property tax bills to go towards preserving historical resources, conserving open space, developing affordable housing, and recreation.

Aside from creating a list of historical locations and items in the town, committee members and residents discussed priorities for future funding.

Town Administrator Mike Gagne suggested assessing the risk of a project as a criteria for determining what projects in town receive funding.

Seth Mendell, Town Historian, agreed. “Once it’s lost, it’s lost forever,” he said.

Mendell also suggested, “If you’re going to spend money, it’s got to have public benefit.”

The group agreed on the two priorities.

Committee Chair John DeCosta stressed that the ultimate goal of the process was to put the townspeople’s money to the best use.

“It’s not our money. We want to do the most good with it,” said DeCosta.

The committee plans to discuss recreation at its next public input meeting in February.