Dublin’s Fire & EMS does not expect to receive federal funds this year for the department to get recertified for hazardous materials mitigation.

K Vanderbilt, deputy chief/EMS of the department, said at Monday’s Select Board meeting that this certification is required every five years by the state.

“I’m not anticipating the grant money this year. Grant funds are drying up,” she said.

The previously anticipated federal funds to cover the recertification were $10,000, and would go to having an outside consultant recertify members of the department.

"Everything's in limbo,” said Fire Chief Tom Vanderbilt. “Look at the solar panels we’re still waiting on.”

Vanderbilt was referring to a solar panel installation for the fire station that is delayed owing to uncertainty as to federal funds expected to help with the cost.

“Without the grant funds, we’ll dust off our old (hazmat certification) plans and do an in-house update. But it’s an unfunded mandate,” said Tom Vanderbilt.

Asked whether this alternative approach could impact the safety of personnel who would come in contact with hazardous materials, Vanderbilt said no, again suggesting an in-house plan.

“Keeping everyone safe is job one,” he said.

In other news, the Select Board approved sending of a letter to the ConVal School Board which took issue with a number of points made by the board in its statements in opposition to Dublin’s and Francestown’s withdrawal from the school district. It also requested action by the board. 

The letter was signed by Select Board Chair Chris Raymond and members Carole Monroe and Susan Peters. It noted that the ConVal School Board stated that Mason becoming a multi-district SAU necessitated that town hiring 12 more people, but that when Dublin contacted Mason, it was told that only 2 1/2 more staff were needed. It also stated that the withdrawals of Dublin and Francestown “have consistently been presented in concert to amplify the impact” whereas these are independent initiatives of different towns.

The letter went on to state that “The board has stated repeatedly that it can’t pin down the cost of withdrawal. Yet each of the other towns (in the district) was given a percentage for their increase in taxes, down to two decimal points.” It claimed that the school board presented “SAU costs that were inflated…to approximately $1.5 million without explanation.”

The letter concluded with the request that the district “disclose its supporting data and calculations behind the misleading presentation,” and requests that this be done within a timeline in keeping with the state’s right-to-know law. 

In addition to addressing the letter to Superintendent Ann Forrest, ConVal School Board Chair Richard Dunning and members of the ConVal School Board, the Select Board copied Drew Cline, chair of the state Board of Education, and New Hampshire Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut.