Hanover approves two-year police contract | News, Sports, Jobs

OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen
A Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office vehicle is shown parked behind the Hanover Town Court, while the Hanover Town Board discussed an enhanced police protection agreement within the walls of the courthouse.

HANOVER — In the final months of 2023, the topic of enhanced police protection in the Town of Hanover and the Village of Silver Creek led to many discussions.

But not even a month into 2024, the same topic was revisited, and a much more favorable outcome for the Town of Hanover was the result.

The Town of Hanover and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office have agreed upon a two-year contract for enhanced police protection in the Town and in the Village of Silver Creek. The two-year pact runs through Dec. 31, 2025, replacing the previously approved one-year contract.

“I want to thank Sheriff Jim Quattrone, Legislator Tom Harmon, the County Legislature, County Executive P.J. Wendel, and Councilman Bernie Feldmann for their assistance in this new two-year updated Sheriff Contract,” Hanover Town Supervisor Lou Pelletter said.

With time winding down to approve a contract with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office for enhanced police coverage of the area, Hanover approved a contract at a substantial increase from the previous year — of approximately $60,000 — to ensure the area would remain with its own designated patrol vehicle. The Town of Hanover and the Village of Silver Creek share a deputy and patrol vehicle 24/7, in addition to the base level coverage every municipality in the county receives.

Former Supervisor Todd Johnson called a special meeting to approve the contract with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office. After more than 30 minutes of frustration was expressed by the Town Council, the Board unanimously approved an agreement between the Town, the Village of Silver Creek, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office for enhanced police protection through Dec. 31, 2024.

The initial agreed upon contract was for a total cost of $626,513, split into quarterly payments from both the Town of Hanover and the Village of Silver Creek in the amount of $78,314.13 per installment. However, throughout the negotiations, then-Deputy Supervisor Lou Pelletter and Councilman Bernie Feldmann felt that a longer contract would alleviate the financial burden of the municipalities, especially considering the substantial raise set to take effect.

Pelletter, now the Town Supervisor, presented the renegotiated two-year contract figures at a meeting of the Town Council on Monday night. The Board approved Pelletter to sign the contract on behalf of the Town, which he did Tuesday morning.

The two-year contract carries a total cost of $1,189,847.47, which will be shared between the Town and the Village of Silver Creek, upon Silver Creek’s approval of the terms. Silver Creek Mayor Jeff Hornburg attended the special meeting with the Town upon its initial approval and voiced the Village’s support of enhanced police protection in the region.

The first year of the agreement, 2024, carries a total cost of $587,579.00, likely to be split between the Village and the Town. For the year 2025, the total cost is $602,268.47. Payments will be made quarterly.

In renegotiating the contract and committing to a multi-year agreement, the Town lowered the cost in 2024 by $38,394, while also locking in a 2025 figure more than $24,000 lower than the amount previously agreed upon in 2024.

Because of the success Pelletter had in negotiating a multi-year contract, he hopes to meet with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office near the end of 2024 to discuss another extension of the contract.