BUTLER TWP — Before a packed room of anxious seniors, the Area Agency on Aging’s advisory board on Tuesday voted to recommend that hours at several of the county’s senior centers be scaled back.

Under the plan, the Butler and Cranberry Township centers would remain open five days a week; the Chicora, Evans City, Mars and Slippery Rock centers would be open three days a week instead of five; and the Mount Chestnut and Winfield Township centers would stay open two days a week.

However, the county could provide meals at West Sunbury and Zelienople while the West Sunbury Presbyterian Church would operate the one center. And, it’s possible a cooperative agreement could be made with the Passavant Community Senior Living Community to operate the Zelienople center.

AAA administrator Beth Harold said this proposal could cut as much as $80,000 off the centers’ $688,330 total budget.

Donald Knoll was the lone vote against approving the proposal. He said if the Cranberry facility isn’t impacted, the Chicora center shouldn’t be either.

Those in favor of the plan, including a number of the board members, championed the work of Harold, who gave a presentation about how the plan was intended to balance the needs of the seniors against a budget that hasn’t increased in about a decade and a growing desire by seniors to move away from fundraising to support the centers.

Those who opposed the plan said the centers’ meals, birthday and card parties and craft fairs provide a needed service for seniors in all areas of the county every day.

Although they are tired of raising money, they think the county should come up with a different way to help pay for the centers.

Some of the seniors said they would be happier to do fundraisers if the money went directly to activities such as trips. But one woman said she’s tired of fundraisers because she ends up having to buy the materials, make the fundraising items and then she is stuck buying them anyway.

“Why not just ask us for $50?” she asked.

As part of the plan, each of the senior centers still would be responsible for raising part of the operational costs.

Some of the people who oppose the plan said they sought the help of county Commissioner Jim Eckstein, who attended the meeting as a visitor.

“He cares about us,” said Kathy Klook of Butler Township.

Eckstein alleged the plan to cut back on centers was masterminded by Herold, Joyce Ainsworth and commissioners Dale Pinkerton and Bill McCarrier.

Eckstein called comments alleging he was using the senior centers as a campaign issue “poppycock.”

McCarrier, who is a member of the AAA advisory board, was in attendance. Ainsworth and Pinkerton were seated among the spectators.

Eckstein openly argued with one of the advisory board members and refused to apologize to Herold for comments he alleged were made in jest.