WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Hartford Selectboard members have opted against sending a letter to federal agencies asking how a recent ordinance meant to protect undocumented immigrants might impact grant funding.

During a meeting Tuesday night, board members voted, 6-1, in favor of a motion not to send the letter. Dennis Brown was the lone dissenting vote.

Despite the outcome of the vote, Hartford Town Manager Brannon Godfrey, who originally proposed sending the letter, said at the meeting that he still has a “responsibility to notify those agencies at least that the ordinance exists.”

The letter, which was drafted by a town attorney and signed by Godfrey, would have notified federal grant agencies of the town’s recently adopted “Welcoming Hartford” ordinance, which prohibits Hartford police and other town officials from sharing a person’s citizenship information with U.S. immigration authorities. The ordinance is in conflict with a federal law that states towns must share citizenship information with U.S. immigration authorities.

Many grant applications require the town be in compliance with all applicable federal laws. In the proposed letter, Hartford would have asked grant agencies whether the ordinance means they’re not in compliance and therefore not eligible to receive federal grant funding for town projects.

One grant that Godfrey mentioned the town may not be in compliance with is a $27,800 USDA grant to help replace the Bugbee Senior Center roof, according to an email from Godfrey on Monday.

But the letter drew criticism Tuesday from several board members, including Joe Major, who accused the town attorney of “cherry picking” ordinances. He said there are other ways — apart from the ordinance — the town is not in compliance with federal laws, including age restrictions on long gun ownership.

Board member Alan Johnson echoed Major, saying if the town is going to ask for input from grant agencies before applying, it should mention all of the ways it’s not in compliance with federal laws.

“We shouldn’t be highlighting a specific ordinance,” Johnson said.

Others, such as board member Alicia Barrow, said that grant applications require a town to be in compliance only with “applicable” laws. The ordinance might affect the town’s application for a police department grant, but it is not related to a grant for roof repairs at the Bugbee Center, she said.

Board member Simon Dennis said much of the disagreement between the attorney and some Selectboard members comes down to the use of the word “applicable” in grant applications.

“Does it mean applicable to the state or does it mean applicable to the subject of the grant?” he asked.

Board member Dennis Brown disagreed with other members, saying it’s important to know if the town will get grant funding when they embark on a project.

He added that the Selectboard was warned prior to approving the ordinance that it might affect federal grant funding. Godfrey previously raised concerns about the ordinance’s legality in January.

“A decision was made to support the (ordinance) and now we have to live with the consequences,” Brown said.

In addition to deciding not to send the letter, Selectboard members voted in the same motion to seek consultation from a different attorney on the Welcoming Hartford ordinance in the future. They also voted to authorize Selectboard Chairman Dan Fraser to sign off on the town’s compliance with federal laws for grant applications going forward.

Anna Merriman can be reached at amerriman@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.