360 Redesignation of Area Agency on Aging for Columbia and Montour Counties planning and service area no. 15; final decision regarding redesignation

DEPARTMENT OF AGING

Redesignation of Area Agency on Aging for Columbia and Montour Counties Planning and Service Area No. 15; Final Decision Regarding Redesignation

[35 Pa.B. 1435]

   The Secretary of the Department of Aging (Department), under authority contained in the act of June 20, 1978 (P. L. 477, No. 70) (71 P. S. §§ 581-1--581-13), in conformity with the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.A. §§ 3001--3058ee), and under 6 Pa. Code Chapter 30 (relating to designation and redesignation of area agencies on aging), has made a final decision regarding the redesignation of the area agency on aging (AAA) serving Planning and Service Area No. 15 (service area), which has the same boundaries as Columbia and Montour Counties (counties), as follows:

From:  Columbia/Montour AAA
           702 Sawmill Road, Suite 201
           Bloomsburg, PA 17815-7727

To:       Columbia/Montour Aging Office, Incorporated
           702 Sawmill Road, Suite 201
           Bloomsburg, PA 17815-7727

   On September 13, 2004, the Department received a formal request from the Boards of Commissioners (commissioners) of the counties to redesignate the AAA from its county auspice to a nonprofit organization serving their service area. The commissioners advised that, in their opinion, the interests of older persons in the counties would be best served if services were provided through a private, nonprofit AAA rather than the existing county-based AAA. The commissioners' request in no way reflected dissatisfaction with the existing AAA but was based on other considerations. The commissioners recommended that the currently designated, county-affiliated AAA be reorganized as a private, nonprofit corporation, so that it could continue as the AAA serving the counties.

   Public hearings on the redesignation of the AAA were held at the Bloomsburg and the Danville Senior Centers on Wednesday, December 1, 2004. A copy of the verbatim proceedings is available upon request from the Department of Aging, 555 Walnut Street, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Testimony given at the public hearings reflected positively on the capacity of the management and staff of the counties' AAA to provide services to older persons in the counties. No other agencies came forward to express an interest in becoming the AAA.

   On December 30, 2004, after considering the impact of redesignation on the provision of services in the service area, the comments of the current AAA and the commissioners and the testimony given at the public hearings, the Secretary notified the commissioners of a preliminary decision to redesignate the AAA as an independent, nonprofit corporation, effective July 1, 2005. The Secretary's notification included an explanation for the preliminary decision and informed the currently-designated AAA of its right to request a hearing regarding this decision. In a response letter of January 12, 2005, the currently-designated AAA acknowledged the Department's preliminary decision and stated that the AAA would not request a hearing since they were in agreement with the decision for the AAA to be redesignated as an independent, nonprofit corporation.

   The Secretary publishes this final decision redesignating Columbia/Montour Aging Office, Incorporated as the AAA serving the counties.

   This order shall take effect July 1, 2005.

NORA DOWD EISENHOWER,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 05-360. Filed for public inspection February 25, 2005, 9:00 a.m.]