OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Pictured is Town of Hanover Supervisor Lou Pelletter.

HANOVER — Ahead of the upcoming Bay Creek Fire District Commissioners vote on Dec. 9, the Hanover Center Fire Department sent a letter to residents of its coverage area to voice its support of three candidates on the ballot.

A letter addressed to residents north of King Road 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.”

Five commissioners will be elected from a pool of nine candidates, including the five members who were appointed by the Hanover Town Board upon the district’s formation. Those five candidates are Andy Allaire, Rich Brennan, Colleen Griewisch, Janet Harmon, and Shawn Smith. Griewisch has served as Secretary of the district since its formation, with Smith as Chairman.

The other four candidates running for a spot on the Board of Fire Commissioners are Daniel Curry, Irene Blakely, Steven D’Angelo, and Mark A. Wolf. Hanover Center endorsed Blakely, D’Angelo, and Wolf for seats on the Board.

The letter written by Hanover Center stated that as of Jan. 1, Hanover Center will no longer be the first responding department to emergency calls by residents north of King Road. 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 and 20 that were formerly in the Hanover Center Fire Department protection area. The new Bay Creek Fire District – made up of the Silver Creek and Sunset Bay departments – will be dispatched first.

Hanover Center stated in its letter to residents that the change will eliminate the use of the department’s four pieces of fire and rescue equipment and 29 volunteers. The department claimed the change will lead to a longer response time to residents’ homes.

In addition, Hanover Center stated, “you will also now be paying a rate increase of 45% more for fire protection. Not to mention, your fire insurance rating will change due to the additional distance from the fire departments with no water supply.”

The Hanover Town Board approved the boundaries of the new Bay Creek Fire District and appointed its initial Board of Fire Commissioners. Hanover Center took issue with the fact that “all the Commissioners were members of Silver Creek and Sunset Bay Fire Departments even though it now includes Hanover Center’s protection area.”

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 $1,000 of assessed value. The total amount to be raised by taxes for fire protection throughout the district is $454,660.

Town of Hanover Supervisor Lou Pelletter stated at a recent meeting, “I’m very happy with our fire district commissioners that we appointed. They have done a very good job. They have set the budget and I’m thinking that it is going to work out very well.”

The first election of fire commissioners for the Bay Creek Fire District will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Silver Creek Fire Hall.