NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF AGING

Redesignation of Area Agency on Aging for Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Tioga Counties; Notice of Intent and Public Hearings

[39 Pa.B. 5602]
[Saturday, September 26, 2009]

 The Secretary of the Department of Aging (Department), under authority in the act of June 20, 1978 (P. L. 477, No. 70) (71 P. S. §§ 581-1—581-12), in conformity with the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.A. §§ 3001—3058ee) and in accordance with the provisions in 6 Pa. Code Chapter 30 (relating to designation and redesignation of area agencies on aging), intends to redesignate an Area Agency of Aging for Planning and Service Area (PSA) Number 36, which has the same boundaries as Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Tioga Counties.

 On June 12, 2009, the Department received a formal request from the Chairperson of the Governing Board of the Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Tioga Counties Area Agency on Aging to redesignate the Area Agency on Aging from its current public designation to a nonprofit organization. The Governing Board, which is comprised of Commissioners from each of the four counties that comprise the Area Agency on Aging, voted unanimously in favor of the request at their May 2009 Board meeting.

 This notice of intent to redesignate the Area Agency of Aging is issued to initiate a review of the requested action. The Department seeks additional information from all concerned parties, including the public residing in Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Tioga Counties. The Department is required under 45 CFR 1321 and by the provisions in 6 Pa. Code Chapter 30 to hold public hearings on this proposed action. Accordingly, the Department will hold public hearings in each of the four affected counties to provide interested parties an opportunity to present testimony on the following issues:

 (1) The effectiveness of services for older persons provided under the administration of the current Area Agency of Aging.

 (2) The basis for naming a new nonprofit agency to administer those services.

 (3) The qualifications and capabilities of the intended nonprofit agency to develop and carry out an effective area plan for older persons in the PSA.

 (4) The continuing appropriateness of the PSA boundaries based on demographic, economic and geographic factors.

 (5) The potential positive and negative effects of redesignation on agency personnel, older adults in the PSA, and the costs and quality of agency services.

 In conjunction with its consideration of public testimony, the Department will be reviewing the current Area Agency Aging's overall compliance with departmental policy and service goals, as the agency has asserted that its anticipated operations as a private nonprofit agency will be comparable to its current operations as a multicounty agency.

 Public hearings will be held as follows:

Tioga County
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Tioga County Courthouse
Commissioners Conference Room
116—118 Main Street
Wellsboro, PA 16901

Bradford County
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Lackawanna College
Conference Room 2/3
One Progress Plaza, Suite 2
Towanda, PA 18848

Susquehanna County
Thursday, October 15, 2009
9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Montrose Bible Conference
Dreyer Lodge Chapel
5 Locust Street
Montrose, PA 18801

Sullivan County
Thursday, October 15, 2009
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Sullivan County Courthouse
Courtroom
Main and Muncy Streets
Laporte, PA 18626

 Persons who wish to present oral testimony at one of these scheduled hearings regarding these issues are asked to notify William Farley, Executive Director, B/S/S/T Area Agency of Aging, 220 Main Street, Unit 2, Towanda, PA 18848, (570) 265-6121 or fax (570) 265-5680, in advance of the hearing.

 The Department will also accept written testimony on these issues until October 15, 2009, from any interested parties who are unable to attend the public hearings or present oral testimony. Written testimony should be mailed to Michael Smith, Chief of Staff, Department of Aging, 555 Walnut Street, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101-1919.

JOHN MICHAEL HALL, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 09-1786. Filed for public inspection September 25, 2009, 9:00 a.m.]

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