Fulton County commissioners adopt bylaws, confirm reappointments and approve $229,387 in payables at reorganization meeting

Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Randy H. Bunch called the board to order on Jan. 6, 2026, at the Commissioners' Office and opened the annual reorganizational meeting. The board adopted its 2026 bylaws, confirmed a slate of reappointments and committee assignments for the year, and approved routine payables and payroll.

The board unanimously adopted the 2026 Board of Commissioners bylaws “for the regulation of business of the Board,” citing authority under the County Code and the Act of Aug. 9, 1955 (16 Purdon, Sections 503 and 509, as amended). Commissioner Bunch introduced the motion and it carried with all in favor.

The commissioners approved administrative actions intended to maintain continuity of county operations. Commissioner Steven L. Wible moved to reappoint members to the Bedford Fulton Joint Recreation Authority to stagger terms: Eric Weisbrod (term to expire Jan. 1, 2029), Paul Johnston (term to expire Jan. 6, 2030) and Greg Henry (term to expire Jan. 5, 2031). The board also reappointed county officials and contractors for 2026, including Solicitor Jim Stein (DSS Law), Chief Clerk Stacey M. Shives, Tax Claim Bureau Director Amy Bishop, Chief Assessor Melissa Gordon, Director of Veterans' Affairs Richard Newman, and county engineers Keller Engineers and CES Engineering.

Commissioner Wible moved to reappoint Amy Bishop as Interim County Treasurer for 2026; that motion was approved. The meeting record notes Bishop and Fiscal Administrator Sue Reed met with the commissioners to provide an update on the Treasurer’s Office, but the transcript does not include substantive detail of that update.

On financial matters the board approved accounts payable dated Jan. 6, 2026, totaling $229,387.17, with the meeting record listing the fund-level breakdown: Fund 100 (General Fund) $53,157.03; Fund 201 (Liquid Fuels) $13.41; Fund 211 (Independent Living) $12,558.01; Fund 231 (SFC Evidence Based Practice) $12,650.30; Fund 235 (Law Library) $2,637.72; Fund 238 (911) $11,326.59; Fund 262 (Act 13 Marcellus Shale Recreational) $7,000.00; Fund 300 (Capital Projects) $75,662.44; Fund 400 (Debt Service) $28,783.34; and Fund 804 (Krivak Trust Fund) $25,598.33. The board also approved payroll totaling $122,828.46. Additionally, the board approved an RBA invoice for $7,957.31.

Commissioner Bunch designated committee and board assignments for 2026, assigning commissioners and alternates to standing county bodies and regional boards. The record lists participation and representation on multiple county and regional entities, including the Permanent Salary Board, County Treasurer Retirement Board, Assessment Appeals Board, County Records Improvement Committee, Fulton County Family Partnership Advisory and Board meetings, Criminal Justice Advisory Board/Intermediate Punishment Board, Huntingdon-Bedford-Fulton Area Agency on Aging Board, South Central Counties Solid Waste Agency, Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission (SAPDC) and its committees, Franklin/Fulton Drug & Alcohol Advisory Board, Fulton County Industrial Development Association and Authority, Franklin/Fulton Mental Health-Intellectual Disabilities, STOP and VOCA grant committees, and Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance (TMCA) bodies.

The board appointed Michael Beatty as chairman of the Farmland Agricultural Land Preservation Board for 2026. Commissioners held separate Annual Reorganizational Meetings for the Salary and Retirement Boards at 9:00 a.m.; separate minutes for those meetings are on file. Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to adjourn at 10:37 a.m.; the motion carried with all in favor.

Meeting actions were recorded as unanimous where the transcript reports "all in favor." The transcript does not record any public comments or dissenting votes during this session.