Fulton County commissioners approve payroll, allocations and legal review; appoint interim duties during medical leave

Fulton County commissioners on Feb. 3, 2026 approved a series of routine and administrative actions, including payroll, accounts payable disbursements, travel and staffing actions, and a legal engagement to review the county Prothonotary's Office.

Commissioner Randy H. Bunch called the meeting to order, led the opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and opened the floor for public comment. Residents Carolyn Kerlin, Sandra Barton and Marty Mettille attended; Kerlin inquired about updates on litigation matters, a request that is noted in the minutes but not resolved in the public record.

The board approved the Jan. 27, 2026 Commissioners' Minutes and the Jan. 27, 2026 Salary Board Minutes on a motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible, with the board recorded as "all in favor." Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved approval of payroll dated Feb. 6, 2026 in the amount of $129,990.81 and the board approved accounts payable dated Feb. 3, 2026 totaling $334,397.62. The accounts-payable record lists fund-level distributions: General Fund $96,661.78; Liquid Fuels $13.13; HSDF/HSBG $165,835.26; Law Library $724.96; 911 $44,792.44; Domestic Relations $352.92; and Debt Service $26,017.13.

After an executive session for legal matters, the board recorded a tax appeal hearing at 9:20 a.m.; Commissioner Wible abstained from that matter citing a conflict of interest and the minutes note separate, detailed minutes for the appeal are on file.

HR Administrator Mary Huston presented the January 2026 Retirement Fund Report; the board voted to approve and execute the report as presented. The board also approved travel requests for Services for Children Director Christine McQuade and Services for Children Fiscal Technician Stephanie Mellott to attend the PA Children and Youth Administrators Conference, March 11–13, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.

Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to approve an engagement letter from KB&S — Kulla, Barkdoll & Stewart, P.C., to provide professional legal and consulting services related to a review of the Fulton County Prothonotary's Office; that motion was approved. The board also authorized Commissioner Wible to execute MATP allocation letters for FY 2024–2025 and FY 2025–2026 in the amounts of $464,875.00 and $491,875.00, respectively.

Other administrative approvals included accepting a laptop quote submitted by Rick Grissinger of Elect IT for jury coordinator duties to be performed in Franklin County and approving an invoice from Franklin County Fiscal for Fulton County court costs for the fourth quarter of 2025 in the amount of $38,819.27 (described in the record as 10% of court wages and benefits). All listed motions record "all in favor" in the minutes unless otherwise noted.

The board entered executive session for personnel matters in the morning and again after reconvening in the afternoon. The commissioners, HR Administrator and Chief Clerk conducted interviews for the Prothonotary's Office. The board approved a motion appointing Commissioner Steven L. Wible to perform committee duties assigned to a colleague who will go on medical leave; that motion was recorded as carried. The meeting recessed for a Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) meeting and later adjourned at 3:05 p.m.

The minutes note that separate, detailed minutes are on file for the tax appeal hearing.