Fulton County commissioners approve payroll and accounts payable, authorize review of Prothonotary's Office; Wible named to cover duties during medical leave

FULTON COUNTY — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3, 2026 approved routine minutes and payroll, authorized several administrative actions, and moved to contract a third-party review of the county Prothonotary’s Office.

Commissioner Randy H. Bunch called the meeting to order. After a public comment period during which resident Carolyn Kerlin asked for updates on litigation matters, the board approved the Jan. 27, 2026 Commissioners’ Minutes and the Jan. 27 Salary Board Minutes on a motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible.

The board approved payroll dated Feb. 6, 2026 in the amount of $129,990.81 (motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann) and voted to approve accounts payable dated Feb. 3, 2026 totaling $334,397.62. The accounts-payable total included $96,661.78 from the General Fund, $165,835.26 from HSDF/HSBG funds, $44,792.44 for 911, $26,017.13 in Debt Service and smaller amounts from Liquid Fuels, Law Library and Domestic Relations funds.

The commissioners entered an executive session at 8:30 a.m. for legal matters and reconvened at 9:20 a.m., at which time a Tax Appeal Hearing was held. Commissioner Steven L. Wible abstained from the tax appeal hearing because of a stated conflict of interest; separate minutes for that hearing are on file.

HR Administrator Mary Huston presented the January 2026 Retirement Fund Report, which the board approved and executed. The board also approved travel for Services for Children Director Christine McQuade and Services for Children Fiscal Technician Stephanie Mellott to attend the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Administrators Conference in State College, Pa., March 11–13, 2026.

The board voted to accept 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,” a move that starts an external review of that elected office’s operations.

Commissioner Hervey P. Hann authorized Commissioner Wible to execute Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) allocation letters for fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 in the amounts of $464,875.00 and $491,875.00 respectively; the board approved the authorization. The combined allocations total $956,750 across the two years.

The board approved a laptop quote from Rick Grissinger of Elect IT to be used in Franklin County for jury-coordinator duties, and approved an invoice from Franklin County Fiscal for Fulton County court costs for the fourth quarter of 2025 in the amount of $38,819.27 (recorded as 10% of court wages and benefits).

The commissioners entered a second executive session at 10:35 a.m. for personnel matters and, upon exit, voted to appoint Commissioner Steven L. Wible to perform committee duties assigned to Commissioner Bunch during a period when Commissioner Bunch will be on medical leave. The board recessed for a Criminal Justice Advisory Board meeting and later reconvened in the afternoon; the commissioners, the HR administrator and the chief clerk conducted interviews for the Prothonotary’s Office before adjourning at 3:05 p.m.

Actions taken at the meeting were procedural and administrative; no ordinances or policy adoptions were recorded in the meeting minutes. Separate minutes are on file for the Tax Appeal Hearing and for personnel matters that were discussed in executive session.