Drops of scrutiny
Hanover expects dredging resolution at next meeting
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HANOVER -- After putting the work back out to bid, the Town of Hanover has once again received two bids regarding the dredging of Cattaraugus Creek and Hanover Harbor. The bids -- submitted by Littoral Services LLC and GEI Consultants -- will be evaluated in the coming weeks before the Town Board will take action at its next regular meeting Monday.
The Town initially received two bids for the work on June 15, but the bids varied dramatically, with a difference in cost of roughly $60,000. Supervisor Lou Pelletter felt the offers were not comparable, and rather than accept one of the bids, the Town Board elected to refine the scope of the project and re-advertise the bid specifications in hopes of a different outcome.
The Town believes it will take action on the matter -- one way or another -- in the coming weeks. Dave Romano, of GEI Consultants, has been assisting the Town in the dredging process up to this point.
If a bid is accepted for the necessary work to dredge Cattaraugus Creek and Hanover Harbor, it will come down to finding the right time to do the work. The initial target date the Town had in mind for the work to begin was in spring of 2027. The Town is being careful to avoid dredging the Creek and the Harbor around the various fishing tournaments held annually in Hanover. The Town hopes to coordinate the timing of the work with the County, the State, and the Army Corps of Engineers.
While dredging the creek is an agreement potentially coming down the road, the Town Board moved forward with another agreement at a recent meeting. A perpetual easement with American Tower regarding the placement of a cell tower on Town property resulted in a 10-year contract, in which the Town will receive $545,599.59 over a period of 120 months.
The Town Board also authorized a payment of $5,995 to Industrial Appraisal Company, of Pittsburgh, for the on-site inspection and appraisal for the Town's fixed assets for insurance purposes, including buildings, equipment and machinery owned by the Town of Hanover.
The Town entered into a three-year agreement with Spectrum for phone and internet services at the Town Hall, Highway Building, Water Tower, and Water/Sewer Department Building, in place of the previous agreement with DFT Communications.
The placement of two pedestrian warning signs on Iola Drive also received Board approval. The area is not designated as a crosswalk, but pedestrians tend to cross Iola Drive anyway, so the signs are meant as a protective measure.
During the month of June, the Town Clerk's Office collected $814 in State, County, and local revenue, stemming from issuing 46 dog licenses, 14 State Department of Environmental Conservation licenses and permits, three marriage licenses, and 10 handicap tags. The Clerk's Office also collected $41,144.51 in water revenue and $78,914.78 in sewer revenue. The Tax Collector completed and filed the Quarter 2 Property Tax Census.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office reported 459 Deputy responses in June. The Code Enforcement Office issued 27 permits in June, with 25 of the 27 being in the Town of Hanover and just two in the Village of Silver Creek.
Justice Court Clerks Molly Merrill and Kaylee De La O were authorized to attend the 2026 NY State Court Clerks Annual Training and Conference at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, from Sept. 27- 30. The total cost is estimated at $1,642, plus mileage and meals not covered during the conference.
A community meeting regarding historic homes and properties in Hanover, Silver Creek and surrounding areas will be held on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Dining Car in Silver Creek, on Central Avenue, next to the Silver Creek Fire Station. Guests will explore the idea of establishing a community group with its mission to preserve and protect the vanishing historic buildings and properties of our communities.
The next meeting of the Hanover Town Board is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Hanover Town Hall.