After the recent board meeting presented a proposal to restructure the Area Agency on Aging (AAOA) and eliminate nine positions within the department, concerned citizens met to speak on the agency and discuss the county board. (Photo by Kelli Miller)

NORWICH — After the recent board meeting presented a proposal to restructure the Area Agency on Aging (AAOA) and eliminate nine positions within the department, concerned citizens met to speak on the agency and discuss the county board.

About 60 county residents filled the seats in the library conference room to address the tabled proposal and learn about the AAOA programs.

The meeting opened with concerned citizen and moderator Leslie Coleman claimed a few committee and board members tried reorganized the agency behind closed doors, in executive session, and without a public hearing and without the full board members being informed.

She said it wasn’t in total secrecy but it wasn’t done according to guidelines set forth by New York State and said they want to decrease the agency by about half and claim there will be no disruption in services, no reduction in services, adding, “It’s hard to believe that’s true.”

Coleman noted this AAOA support meeting was formed to share what is happening with the agency, the programs provided and how the services help support the county seniors. She hoped that with the information given, there could be an overall understanding of AAOA.

She also noted many people contacted the state to let them know what had recently taken place with the board.

In response, New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) sent a cover letter with 136 page document to each board member, including the board chair and county lawyer.