The Select Board voted Aug. 11 to temporarily appoint seven trainee recruits to the fire department under a FEMA SAFER grant and later approved a permanent appointment recommended by the fire chief.

Chiefs and department representatives explained the traineeship arrangement: the positions are grant-funded and temporary, allowing recruits to receive training and certification at no cost to the town. The department said the grant provides a complete firefighter ensemble valued at about $5,000 per certified firefighter; enrolling up to 10 trainees under the grant would permit purchase of nearly $50,000 worth of gear, the department letter said.

Names the board approved for temporary trainee appointment included Anthony Hicks (Manchester), Jessica Saint Louis (Manchester), Jacob Newman (Merrimack), Isabella Edwards (Madbury), Braylon Morgenthau (Deerfield), Kaylee [last name not fully identified in transcript] (Berry), and Mikaela Tavares (Laconia). The board moved, seconded and approved temporary appointments by voice vote.

Select Board members and department officials said the town had exhausted local volunteer recruitment and sought to use the grant slots so the grant funds and training would not go unused. The board discussed that candidates must meet department requirements, and the department said trainees must be at least 18 years old.

Later in the meeting the Select Board approved a recommendation from Fire Chief John Young to appoint Michael McCorkle of Raymond as a permanent Firefighter AEMT after review of candidate materials and state background checks pending. The board voted to approve that appointment as recommended by the chief.

The appointments carry standard conditions described in department letters: trainees may separate at the end of the grant if either party chooses; certified trainees who the department wants to retain may be reappointed to permanent status after training and certification are complete.

Board minutes show the motions carried and the board instructed staff to process appointment paperwork.