A plan to install solar panels on the roof of the fire station, based on a grant proposal signed by then-Gov. Chris Sununu last year, has been pushed back to later in the spring.

A November press release from the town stated that the state Department of Energy grant would cover the estimated installation cost of $43,843, and that “A solar array on the south-facing portion of the roof would offer enough capacity to meet the current electricity needs of the Fire Station, with some room for future growth in electricity usage.”

Sununu approved the grant proposal along with 15 others last November, but plans to move forward with a contract for this installation are not moving forward as the federal funds for it have not materialized. 

During Monday’s meeting, Select Board member Susan Peters shared a Monday email from NHDOE stating that they are “currently awaiting further program guidance from their U.S. Department of Energy counterparts.” Peters added that the Select Board postponed approval of the project agreement pending further clarification from NHDOE.

Earlier in the meeting, Police Chief Tim Suokko said that two weeks ago he had been selected to attend an FBI training program for chiefs of smaller departments in May, but he received word last week that it had been canceled. 

“Funding,” said Suokko when asked why the program was scratched. 

In other news, Select Board Chair Chris Raymond said that the ConVal School Board’s presentation in Dublin last week was “insulting.” On Tuesday, the board explained its reasoning for opposing a petition warrant article proposed by a Dublin resident to cap per student funding in the district to $29,000.

“They showed blatant disregard for the individual who worked on that article. They were rude and disrespectful,” said Raymond. “I think that the board has lost its sense of responsibility to the district.”

On another school-related matter, Jay Schechter of the former Dublin Education Advisory Committee said, “I am more optimistic about the withdrawal after hearing some of the responses from residents of other towns. Several stated that they felt the School Board was not presenting the facts accurately and that Dublin and Francestown should be able to leave if that’s what we want.”