BUCKFIELD — Town Manager Glen Holmes read a letter to selectmen on Tuesday night from the Maine Emergency Management Agency administrator, thanking the board for authorizing the use of grant money for a dinner that was held in May.

The dinner was held to recruit volunteers and to make residents aware of what they can do to help during emergencies.

The grant for $10,640 included funds to train volunteers and purchase equipment.

Seven new Certified Emergency Rescue Team volunteers signed up at the dinner. This doubled the number of people who now operate the emergency shelter, according to the administrator. CERT training will begin in September for the volunteers.

Rescue Chief Lisa Buck said she also had two new volunteers who were interested.

The grant was designed to help residents learn how to help themselves and their neighbors in an emergency.

Buck also announced a grant has been received from Maine Emergency Management Agency for two new computers. She submitted a grant application for $50,000 to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Holmes said he and fire Chief Steve Campbell submitted a grant application for $124,000 for a squad truck for the Fire Department.

Campbell was reappointed fire chief for another four years. At the annual town meeting in 2009, the town approved an ordinance to have the chief elected by the Fire Department and appointed by the Board of Selectmen every four years. Holmes reported that the election had taken place and the department backed Campbell.

The board approved taking $78,000 from the sand/salt shed reserve account to finish paying for the new shed.

Selectman Chip Richardson agreed to represent the town at the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.