At a hearing conducted by the agency for a certificate of need application, if a local governing body requests to participate in such hearing, the officials of such governing body shall have the opportunity to appear before the agency and express support or opposition to the granting of a certificate of need to the applicant. The testimony of such officials shall be informational and advisory to the agency, and the support of the local governing body shall not be a requirement for the granting of a certificate of need by the agency.