SILVER CREEK — Sometimes an even split and a fair share are not the same thing.

The Town of Hanover and the Village of Silver Creek evenly split the cost of a contract with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office for enhanced police protection. Silver Creek Mayor Kathy Tampio ran the numbers and feels the Village is getting the short end of the stick.

Tampio recently sent a letter to Hanover Supervisor Lou Pelletter and the Town Board in an attempt to renegotiate the terms of the contract between the Village and the Town. Tampio proposed a 60-40 split with the Town, while also stating a desire for a one-year contract with the Town, rather than two years, like the Town has with the Sheriff’s Office.

In the letter, Tampio stated that according to the last census, the Village population is 2,583, compared to the Town-wide population of 6,842, including the Village. That equates to roughly 38% of the Town-wide population being Village residents.

Not only is the Village responsible for only 38% of the Town’s population; it is also responsible for far less than half of the total incidents in the Sheriff’s reports.

Tampio highlighted in January of 2025, 293 incidents came from the Town, while 155 came from the Village, equating to 34% of the total calls in the month. In December 2025, the Town had 395 incidents, while the Village had 202 (34%). In January, the Town had 405 incidents, when the Village had 188 (32%). Those numbers show a sizable disparity, even without the seasonal guests in Hanford Bay and Sunset Bay.

Tampio stated in her letter to the Town Board, “In consideration of these statistics and in an effort to truly be fair to our Village taxpayers, we would agree to sharing the cost of the 2026 Sheriff Contract for Enhanced Police Protection as well as the monthly cost of fuel to a 40% Village share and a 60% Town share.”

Despite Tampio’s efforts, the Town did not agree to a renegotiation. Tampio stated that, because the Town budget is already determined, Pelletter responded to her request by stating that a renegotiation was not in the cards this year.

Still, Tampio stated, “We value the police protection that the Sheriff contract provides and look forward to providing our fair share of the cost of the Sheriff Contract.”

The Village’s portion of the agreement in 2026, from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, amounts to $316,191, split into quarterly payments. While the Village’s portion of the deal will not be renegotiated this year, the Village only committed to its portion of the contract this year, rather than approving both years of the two-year contract. Tampio is now urging the Town to plan for the cost to be covered by the overall Town budget through taxes that every resident – Village and Town – pays each year.

In other Village business, a bid for the replacement of the Borrello Park Pavilion was awarded to Byler Home Improvement in the amount of $8,680.

Russell Dean was hired as a full-time Maintenance Mechanic in the Water/Sewer Department at a rate of $22.23 per hour. Tampio noted the Village received “several very good applications”, but Dean was the preferred choice of the Water/Sewer Department.

Michael Keddie was approved as a member of the Silver Creek Emergency Squad. The purchase of a used 1995 Chevrolet step van from Kuppel Tire at a cost of $6,000 was also approved.

The next Silver Creek Village Board meeting will be held on Monday, April 6 at 7 p.m.