Fulton County commissioners adopt 2026 tentative budget, approve HR changes and appointments

FULTON COUNTY — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 25 adopted a 2026 tentative budget and approved a string of administrative and personnel measures, including a classification change for the county’s Veterans Affairs director.

Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to adopt the 2026 tentative budget as presented by CFO Mike Lamb and Fiscal Administrator Sue Reed; the motion passed unanimously. The board scheduled final adoption for Dec. 30, 2025. The tentative budget was presented during the meeting but the minutes do not detail line‑item changes included in the proposal.

The board considered proposed changes to the county HR manual, Section 212 “Employee Benefits,” after meeting with HR Administrator Mary Huston. Commissioners requested Huston return revised language for formal approval; they also voted to accept Huston’s proposal to amend Section 212.

In a personnel move, the commissioners approved a request to allow Veterans Affairs Director Richard Newman to work the equivalent of 30 hours per week and qualify as a full‑time employee with benefits. Commissioner Hervey P. Hann made the motion, which passed unanimously; the change was tied in the minutes to additional duties assigned by the state related to the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption.

The board approved routine and vendor payments, including EPayment Now dog license receipts totaling $2,363.50; a William Penn Printing invoice for $4,487.70; an Elect IT Solutions invoice for $9,854.00 for December IT staffing and support; and a HART license and support invoice for $11,815.00. The meeting record also shows a payroll approval dated Nov. 28, 2025, for $125,126.16 and total payables of $674,010.68 across county funds.

The commissioners approved reappointment letters for Conservation District directors Gene Mellott and Mark Knepper. They also retroactively authorized Chief Clerk Stacey M. Shives to electronically execute Krivak Trust signatory documents related to the Treasurer’s Office transition and approved a retroactive travel request from Shives to attend a PCHIPC meeting on Nov. 14, 2025.

A bid opening scheduled for 9:00 a.m. for the sale of 119 North Second Street, McConnellsburg, produced no bids and no sale action was taken.

The board held a CDBG project kickoff via Zoom with SEDA‑Cog Program Analyst Hanorah Lucas to discuss the Warfordsburg Senior Center Project; Building and Maintenance Director Brad Seville and Connie Brode, executive director for Huntingdon/Bedford/Fulton Area on Aging, participated in that discussion.

Commissioners met with Chief Tax Assessor Melissa Gordon and Interim County Treasurer Amy Bishop to review updates to the RBA tax software. The board authorized Interim Treasurer Amy Bishop to obtain a county credit card for the Treasurer’s Office and approved a CCAP PCoRP final installment contribution of $45,442 (part of a total contribution of $151,474).

The board also approved an amended Title IV‑D attorney contract for Domestic Relations, granted authorization for Marty Mettille to serve as Fulton County’s advisor for America250PA events and approved a Wellness Improvement Program grant application requesting $1,769.60 to reimburse drinking water purchases ($393.75) and to procure an automated external defibrillator ($1,376.25) for a newly purchased county building at 101 Lincoln Way West, McConnellsburg.

An Election Board meeting and a Safety Committee meeting were noted in the minutes as having occurred; separate minutes are on file for both. The board adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

What’s next: The commissioners set final budget adoption for Dec. 30, 2025, and requested HR return revised manual language for formal adoption at a later meeting.