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WILKES-BARRE — State Rep. Gerald Mullery is asking residents to sign a petition to keep the White Haven State Center open.
Mullery, D-Newport Township, on Tuesday said he opposes the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ decision to shutter the White Haven Center.
“We need to let the Wolf administration know that hundreds of residents, their families and more than 400 caregivers are affected by this heartless move,” Mullery said.
The White Haven Center Board of Trustees will hold a public meeting Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. in the Administration Building of White Haven Center. There will be a brief closed meeting at the beginning, and then the meeting will be conducted in an open forum.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m. in Saint Patrick’s Church, White Haven.
On Aug. 21, state Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller announced the closure of the White Haven State Center in Luzerne County and Polk State Center in Venango County.
The Luzerne Ccounty lawmaker is directing people to his website, Facebook and Twitter accounts to add their name to the petition.
“I want the governor to hear loud and clear the voice of those opposed to his decision, Mullery said. “Since he has yet to accept my invitation to visit the center, we must take our message to him.”
Mullery is urging residents, their families and members of the community at large to offer or submit testimony at a Sept. 12 public hearing. The hearing, at St. Patrick’s Church in White Haven, will begin at 5 p.m.
People interested in testifying should call 570-443-4201. Those wishing to submit written testimony can email RA-PWRAStateCenters@pa.gov.
Mullery critical of Wolf
Last week, Mullery said the Sept. 12 public hearing regarding the state closure of the White Haven Center should be canceled because “it’s nothing more than a charade.”
Mullery said during a conference call with a top official at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, he was advised that the decision to close the White Haven and Polk facilities is final.
“No testimony offered at the hearing will have any impact on the closure process,” Mullery said he was told. “The only reason DHS is holding a public hearing is because they are required to by state law.”
Mullery called the hearing “nothing more than a sham.”
Mullery went on to say that by holding the hearing, DHS is providing White Haven residents, families, workers and the affected communities with false hope that whatever testimony they provide will have an impact, when in fact it will not.
Mullery delivered a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf’s office requesting he visit the residents, families and workers at the facility. Mullery said he feels it’s imperative that the governor meet those who will be deeply affected by the decision to shutter the White Haven Center.