Submitted Photo Silver Creek teacher Janet Decker, standing middle left, and Forestville teacher Brenda Kerstetter, standing middle right, hold an official proclamation from the Hanover Town Board, seated, a year ago declaring the month of March as Choose to Include Month.

HANOVER — A year ago, Silver Creek teacher Janet Decker advocated for her students and her school community in asking the Hanover Town Board to declare the month of March as “Choose to Include Month.”

Decker stood before the Board wearing a shirt that called for inclusion, with students by her side as she addressed the Board and asked to spread inclusion “beyond the walls of our schools and into our communities.” March is recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities.

The Town Board took Decker’s words to heart and passed a resolution in support of inclusion throughout the town of Hanover. March was declared as Choose to Include Month and pledge cards were displayed throughout the Town Hall.

Decker’s impact was not limited to just a year ago. The Town Board reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion by declaring March as Choose to Include Month again this year. A resolution was adopted at the Board’s latest meeting, recognizing the importance of developmental disabilities awareness. The resolution was unanimously passed by the Board for the purpose of “accepting and recognizing individuals of all abilities as contributing members of our community.”

Decker said a year ago, “Our goal is to make inclusion and acceptance a way of life, something that just exists. Hopefully, in years to come, these pledge cards will no longer be needed. We will just live in a world where everyone feels welcome and can participate no matter their background, ability, or differences.”

Now a year later, the Board passed the resolution again, but this time, it applies to every month of March moving forward.

The Town Board also approved a contest for Silver Creek and Forestville students to create a town logo and slogan. The winning submission will be announced at the town’s celebration for the 250th anniversary of the United States in July, with the winning student receiving $250. The next meeting pertaining to the 250th anniversary festivities in the town will be held on Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Hanover Town Hall.

Also of note at the latest Town Board meeting, the income level limit for a partial tax exemption for senior citizens was raised to $30,000 – up from $22,000 – following a public hearing. There was no opposition from the public expressed during the hearing. The change takes effect in 2027.

The Town Board authorized Town Clerk Elizabeth VanCheri to solicit requests for proposals and qualifications for grant administrative services pertaining to the Main Street Grant in Forestville. The Town received $497,751 from the New York State Housing and Community Renewal Program to fund repairs and improvements to commercial properties along Main Street in the hamlet of Forestville.

The Town Board also authorized Highway Superintendent Peter Pelletter to purchase a 2026 Dodge Ram V8 with plow, from Emerling Ford of Springville, NY, at a cost of $33,157, in addition to the trade-in value of a 2023 Dodge Ram truck owned by the Highway Department.

The Board also accepted the resignation of Kathleen Tempski, Court Clerk, with regret. The Town Court collected $12,019 in the month of January, stemming from 180 traffic law cases, five penal law cases, and four civil law cases.

The Code Enforcement office issued 10 building permits in January, six of which were in the village of Silver Creek, with a total of $1,275 collected. The Town Clerk’s Office collected $261 in revenue for January, stemming from 29 dog licenses, two State Department of Environmental Conservation licenses, and 10 handicap tags issued.

The next meeting of the Hanover Town Board will be on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Hanover Town Hall.