New York Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo has announced that in response to her request for a hearing on the closure of inpatient services at both the Greater Binghamton Health Center and the Broome Developmental Center, a local hearing will be held on Friday, September 13th.  The hearing will take place in the Binghamton City Council Chambers beginning at 11 AM and will be conducted by the NYS Assembly Mental Health Committee.

Although the hearing will be open to the public, oral testimony will be by invitation only, while written testimony will also be accepted.  The hearing will last for much of the day and will be divided into a section on the Health Center and one on Broome Developmental.

Lupardo, a Democrat from Endwell, says that the goal of the hearing "is to make sure that representatives from all of the important stakeholder groups are heard from." Panels at the hearing will include Southern Tier elected officials, mental health commissioners, Sheriffs, hospital representatives, and various advocacy groups.

Lupardo also says that alternative plans are being developed for submission to the state and that additional public forums are planned in the next few months.

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