HANOVER — The Town of Hanover appointed five members to serve on the initial Board of Fire Commissioners for the newly formed Bay Creek Fire District earlier this year.

Town Supervisor Lou Pelletter has said consistently that he believes the initial Board has done a “very good job.”

Apparently, the residents thought so too. All five initial Board members of the Bay Creek Fire District were elected in the district’s first public vote.

Colleen Griewisch led all nine candidates with 209 votes. Griewisch has served as Secretary of the district since her initial appointment. She will now serve a five-year term on the Board, the longest of the five elected members. Term lengths are staggered to avoid complete turnover at one time.

Andy Allaire was elected to a four-year term with 198 votes. Rich Brennan received 196 votes, earning him a three-year term. Janet Harmon was elected to a two-year term with 190 votes, and Shawn Smith, the initial Board Chairman, received 183 votes and will serve a one-year term.

Four candidates were not elected to the Board: Steven D’Angelo, 90 votes; Irene Blakely, 84 votes; Mark Wolf, 75 votes; and Daniel Curry, 28 votes.

In a letter addressed to residents north of King Road, Hanover Center was highly critical of the Bay Creek Fire District’s initial Board and endorsed Blakely, D’Angelo, and Wolf for seats on the Board. The letter stated, “You have a chance to have a voice who will be on the next 2026 Fire Commission Board by voting for three of our friends and neighbors to this Board.”

Instead, the five initial members of the Board, appointed by the Town of Hanover, were all elected by the public.

The new Bay Creek Fire District is made up of the Silver Creek and Sunset Bay departments. All properties on the north side of King Road are now part of the Bay Creek Fire District, along with other properties from King Road to Routes 5 & 20 that were formerly in Hanover Center Fire Department protection area.

The Hanover Center Fire Department initially had the option of joining to form one town-wide district, along with Forestville and Irving, but declined. The Town of Hanover plans to push for those discussions to continue in the coming months, especially with the possibility of county funds available for consolidation efforts.

The Bay Creek Fire District approved and adopted the 2026 annual budget following a budget hearing held on Oct. 22. The district’s first budget established a tax rate of $1.99 per thousand dollars of assessed value. The total amount to be raised by taxes for fire protection throughout the district is $454,660.