Silver Creek, Sunset Bay proceed with merger – Evening Observer

Mar 15, 2025
Submitted Photo Sunset Bay Fire Chief Rob Weiskerger, pictured responding to a call, said of the potential for a merger of fire departments in the Town of Hanover, “It’s time to put the politics aside.”

HANOVER — Sunset Bay Fire Chief Rob Weiskerger spoke direct and to the point when it came to a potential fire department merger in the Town of Hanover. It took just a few weeks for his message to come to fruition.
“It’s time to put the politics aside,” he said.
For two of the town’s five fire departments, the time is now.
The Town of Hanover has pledged $15,000 to cover the legal costs to initiate a merger of the Sunset Bay and Silver Creek fire departments. Brad Pinsky, an attorney focused on Fire and Emergency Service agencies, will facilitate the process of establishing one fire district to cover the territory of the two departments.
“I’m happy with it. We did what we said we were going to do,” Town of Hanover Supervisor Lou Pelletter said. “We told them that we would hire an attorney to take care of the paperwork if they can get together.”
OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Deputy Supervisor Bernie Feldmann believes that firefighters should govern their own departments, rather than municipalities. That may soon be the case in Hanover following a merger of Silver Creek and Sunset Bay departments.
Before he spoke to the OBSERVER about a potential merger in late February, Weiskerger sat through two hours of discussion with the Hanover Town Board, an attorney, members of all five local fire departments, and members of the general public at a public meeting designed to discuss a merger of all five fire departments into one all-encompassing district. Weiskerger was caught off guard by the lack of cooperation from his peers, as it turned out that three of the five departments had made their mind up against a merger before the meeting was even held.
But that didn’t stop Weiskerger — or Silver Creek Fire Chief Brandyn Griewisch — from seeking a solution that would still help the Town and its residents. The two departments will design boundaries for coverage in the Town, with the assistance of Chautauqua County’s emergency coordinators.
The Village of Silver Creek and the Town of Hanover are each in favor of the merger for both financial and efficiency purposes. Creating a fire district to tax all residents of the Town at the same rate offers the potential for more money to be collected for the fire departments.
Pinsky, a former Fire Chief himself, stressed that the most important reason to merge departments, however, is for efficiency — such as following the same training and procedures, similar equipment while limiting redundant purchases in future years, and a centralized location for the district to call home.
“It’s going to make our lives easier, which makes the residents’ lives easier, and that’s why we’re here,” Weiskerger said.
Weiskerger said the two departments both work well together and already respond to the same calls frequently. Working alongside each other as one just streamlines the process, while potentially giving additional resources and governing authority to the firefighters and the residents of the district, rather than the Town or the Village.
In terms of location, the two departments are likely to remain where they are for the time being. The Village of Silver Creek owns the Silver Creek Fire Hall and the department’s equipment was purchased with Village tax dollars, while the Sunset Bay Fire Hall is owned by the department. Pelletter said the Town of Hanover will not be acquiring any properties to facilitate a merger.
The potential for a new fire hall to be decided on by the governing members of the departments and the district’s voting residents. Both Pelletter and Deputy Supervisor Bernie Feldmann expressed that giving up that control was more than fine by them.
“I’m not a fireman. I never was a fireman. This should be run by fire persons,” Feldmann said.
Speaking to the financial aspect, Pelletter said, “I’d just assume keep all the fire departments the way they are. I’m looking at it from the monetary point of view, one taxing district. What you guys do with your fire hall, I don’t care. You can keep exactly what you have. The problem is you guys might not be able to get along – it isn’t me. I’m just saying one tax bill.”
The remaining three departments in the town — Hanover Center, Irving, and Forestville — are still evaluating potential next steps. Forestville is looking to expand its coverage as its own department.
Also of note at its most recent meeting, the Town Board moved to appoint Aaron Weiskerger as Coordinating Director of Disaster, in place of Rob Weiskerger. A prorated stipend of $3,500 will now be assigned to Aaron Weiskerger for the duties he has taken on.
The Town Board approved the purchase of a JPRO Next Step Repair Diagnostic Toolbox for the Highway Department from Noregon Systems at a cost of $6,092.94; a zero-turn lawnmower from Larry Romance and Sons at a cost of $7,598; and a high flow snowblower and Skeleton Grappler Bucket from CAT for a total of $18,003.85.

Copyright © Observer Today | https://www.observertoday.com | PO Box 391, Dunkirk, NY 14048 | 716-366-3000

source