MERIDEN — A request to establish a new grants manager position in the city’s finance department received the backing of both the City Council’s personnel and finance committees Monday night.  A series of votes supporting that personnel measure were along party lines, with Democrats on both committees backing them and Republican and We the People Party councilors voting against them.  The grants manager position, according to a draft job description, would report to the city’s finance director if the position is approved by the council. That person would be responsible for researching available grants, including federally funded, state funded and other grants funded through foundation or local sources.  The proposed…