Flip-flops are a summer accessory, but Rochester Selectmen slipped one on in late October.

At the board’s Oct. 21 meeting, Selectmen voted against putting an article before Fall Town Meeting voters and then reversed their decision. The article, if approved, would place a question on the spring election ballot asking residents to adopt the Community Preservation Act.

Immediately after Monday’s vote, Selectman Rich Nunes asked for a “take back.”

He said residents should be allowed to vote on the issue. Nunes also stressed that voters have made their minds up on the issue and cited a previous vote against the act.

Chair Naida Parker agreed with Nunes and reversed her vote against the article. However, Parker noted she and Nunes will recommend that residents vote against the measure. Adopting the act would allow Rochester to impose up to a three percent surcharge on property taxes that, partially matched by state funds, would be used to fund local projects that promote open space and recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing.

So far, 155 Massachusetts towns have adopted the act. Members of Rochester’s Open Space Action Committee have advocated for the town’s participation in the program.

For every local dollar raised through the act, the state will match that with a grant in the amount of 26 percent of local surcharge revenue. The state is expected to raise that percentage to 40 percent or higher next year.

In 2006, Annual Town Meeting voters rejected the state Community Preservation Act by a 26-vote margin.

A “yes” vote at town meeting doesn’t make the act binding though. If approved, the measure will then be put to the entire town in the form of a ballot question in spring. During both votes, Selectman Brad Morse opposed the act.

“This is another tax,” he said. “I cannot support another tax on landowners.”