ALBANY, GA --
The Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County met this morning on the Phoebe North campus to discuss a potential leasing agreement with Phoebe Hospital.

If the lease is approved, Phoebe Putney will operate Phoebe North for the Hospital Authority.

Before the deal can go through, a public hearing must be held where residents can openly voice their opinions on the lease, which is meant to reduce expenses.

"By having this facility, it gives us more beds, it makes savings as far as operating costs, that was the whole idea behind the purchase," said Hospital Authority Chairman, Ralph Rosenberg.

As part of the agreement, Phoebe Putney's Rehabilitation Center will be moved to Phoebe North to consolidate the two, bringing the entire rehab staff over without layoffs.

The hearing will be held on Pine Street across from the court house on May 24th at 10 A.M.