OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Hanover Town Supervisor Lou Pelletter welcomed the newest Planning Board member of the Town, Kaitlin Gage, at a recent meeting.

HANOVER — Town Supervisor Lou Pelletter recently joked that he wants to see younger faces serving the Town in prominent roles. He appears to have gotten his wish.

At its latest meeting, the Hanover Town Board welcomed the Town’s newest member of the Planning Board, as Kaitlin Gage was appointed by the Board unanimously to succeed Chris Manning. Her term will expire in December 2025.

Gage works with the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, and also possesses a degree in Architectural Engineering from Alfred State University.

“Welcome aboard and thanks for doing it,” Pelletter said upon Gage’s approval from the Board.

Gage is also a basketball coach with the Hanover Youth Recreation program, which is now set to commence again this season. Other coaches include the varsity boys basketball coaches of Silver Creek and Forestville, Ralph Jackson and Tom Dempsey.

The Hanover Town Board also approved the appropriation of 20% minimum funding of an Engineering Planning Grant, in the amount of $32,000, to conduct an engineering report to evaluate a sewer district extension to serve the Alleghany, Southerland, Beebe, and Holmes Roads area, along with a potential expansion of the Town’s wastewater treatment plant.

The maximum funding from the Town shall not exceed $6,400, to be paid from the Town’s General Funds.

The Town Board also authorized Jody Faulkner to apply for a New York State Department of Archives Grant in the maximum allotted amount for the digitizing and records management needed by the Town Clerk’s Office. Town Board member Aimee Rogers was also authorized to attend a grant writing seminar March 21-22 at a registration cost of $495.

The Town of Hanover recently approved payments to maintain two local cemeteries, but each of the payments were approved for less than the requested amount. The Hanover Town Board approved $3,000 to be paid to Balltown Cemetery and $5,000 to be paid to the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery for general budgetary expenses and insurance premiums. The allotted funds were budgeted for by the Town. The Balltown Cemetery requested $4,000 from the Town, while the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery requested $7,000. The Town is requesting receipts from the cemeteries in return for its payments.

The Town also held a public hearing for the purpose of a local law to change the pay of the Town Clerk and Deputy Clerks to hourly employees in order to allow for overtime pay when necessary.

The Town Board also approved a Dog Control Agreement between the Town of Hanover and Eden Veterinary Clinic for services provided to the town for stray and unclaimed, found dogs; as well as a service agreement with Koester Associates for a grinder at the Fish Cleaning Station at the Town Boat Launch in the amount of $922.50.

Authorization was also granted to seek bids for the purchase of diesel fuel and gasoline for the Highway, Sewer and Water Departments. The Town is also seeking a part-time laborer for the Highway Department. Lifeguards are also sought by the Town, with training costs covered by the Town.