Fulton County commissioners adopt 2026 tentative budget, approve HR manual changes and routine administrative actions

Fulton County commissioners adopted the county’s 2026 tentative budget at their Nov. 25, 2025 meeting and approved a series of administrative and personnel items, the board said.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the tentative budget as presented by CFO Mike Lamb and Fiscal Administrator Sue Reed; the board will consider final adoption on Dec. 30, 2025. The tentative budget was the principal action of the meeting and was presented during the regular agenda discussion.

Commissioners also accepted proposed amendments to the county HR Manual, Section 212 — “Employee Benefits” — after a discussion with HR Administrator Mary Huston. Commissioner Steven L. Wible moved to accept Huston’s proposal and the motion carried with all commissioners voting in favor. The minutes record that commissioners asked Huston to bring finalized language back for formal approval at a later date.

On personnel classification, the board approved a change that qualifies Veteran Affairs Director Richard Newman as full‑time for benefits by allowing him to work the equivalent of 30 hours per week because of additional duties assigned by the state related to the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption.

Administrative business approved at the meeting included reappointment letters for Conservation District directors Gene Mellott and Mark Knepper, authorization for Interim County Treasurer Amy Bishop to obtain a county credit card for the treasurer’s office, and retroactive approval for Chief Clerk Stacey M. Shives to electronically execute Krivak Trust signatory documents in connection with the Treasurer’s Office transition. The board also retroactively approved a travel request submitted by Chief Clerk Shives to attend a PCHIPC membership meeting on Nov. 14, 2025.

The board recorded a public bid opening for 119 North Second Street in McConnellsburg; no bids were received.

Several routine vendor payments and invoices were approved, including EPayment Now dog license processing ($2,363.50), William Penn Printing ($4,487.70), Elect IT Solutions IT staffing for December ($9,854.00), and HART license and support ($11,815.00). The board also approved a CCAP PCoRP final installment contribution of $45,442 (bringing total contribution to $151,474) and authorized submission of a Wellness Improvement Program grant application requesting $1,769.60 to reimburse drinking water and purchase an AED for a newly purchased county building at 101 Lincoln Way West, McConnellsburg.

The board approved and executed a letter naming Marty Mettille as Fulton County’s advisor for America250PA events and approved a request from the Fulton County Association of Township Officials to plant a commemorative tree on the courthouse lawn for the America250PA celebration.

Commissioners noted a CDBG project kickoff meeting (Warfordsburg Senior Center) conducted via Zoom with SEDA‑COG program analyst Hanorah Lucas and other county representatives. A Safety Committee meeting and an Election Board meeting were held during the morning; separate minutes were recorded for both and are on file.

The meeting opened at 8:30 a.m. and included an executive session for legal matters from 8:06 a.m. to 8:41 a.m. The board adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

Next steps: final adoption of the 2026 budget is scheduled for the board’s Dec. 30, 2025 meeting; other items requiring follow-up include finalized HR manual language from HR and any procurement steps related to approved invoices or the courthouse tree planting.