Fulton County commissioners approve payroll, $334,397.62 in bills; authorize review of Prothonotary's office

Fulton County commissioners convened Feb. 3, 2026, approved routine financial items and authorized several administrative actions, including sending allocation letters for shared transportation funding and hiring outside counsel to review the Prothonotary's Office.

Commissioner Randy H. Bunch opened the meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance and then heard brief public comments. Residents Carolyn Kerlin, Sandra Barton and Marty Mettille attended; Kerlin asked for updates on litigation matters, and no response was recorded in the minutes.

The board approved the Jan. 27, 2026, commissioners' minutes and the Jan. 27 salary board minutes on motions by Commissioner Steven L. Wible, each passing “all in favor.” Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to approve payroll dated Feb. 6, 2026, in the amount of $129,990.81; that motion was recorded as passing with all in favor.

Also approved was $334,397.62 in accounts payable dated Feb. 3, 2026. The minutes list the fund-level breakdown: General Fund (Fund 100) $96,661.78; Liquid Fuels (Fund 201) $13.13; HSDF/HSBG (Fund 229) $165,835.26; Law Library (Fund 235) $724.96; 911 (Fund 238) $44,792.44; Domestic Relations (Fund 256) $352.92; Debt Service (Fund 400) $26,017.13.

In other business, HR Administrator Mary Huston presented the January 2026 Retirement Fund Report. Commissioner Bunch moved to approve and execute the report; the motion passed with all in favor. Commissioner Bunch also moved to approve travel-request forms for Services for Children Director Christine McQuade and Fiscal Technician Stephanie Mellott to attend the PA Children and Youth Administrators Conference, March 11–13, 2026, at State College, Pennsylvania; that motion also passed unanimously.

The board approved an engagement letter from Kulla, Barkdoll & Stewart, P.C. (KB&S) “to provide professional legal and consulting services related to a review of the Fulton County Prothonotary's Office.” Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to approve and execute the engagement letter; the motion passed with all in favor.

Commissioner Hann moved to authorize Commissioner Steven L. Wible to execute MATP (Medical Assistance Transportation Program) allocation letters for FY 2024–2025 and FY 2025–2026 in the amounts of $464,875.00 and $491,875.00, respectively; the motion passed with all in favor. The two allocations sum to $956,750.00 across the two fiscal years as recorded in the minutes.

The board approved a laptop quote submitted by Rick Grissinger of Elect IT to be used in Franklin County for Jury Coordinator duties; the minutes record approval but do not provide the dollar amount of the quote. Commissioner Wible moved to approve an invoice from Franklin County Fiscal representing Fulton County’s share of court costs for the fourth quarter of 2025 in the amount of $38,819.27 (noted as 10% of court wages and benefits); that motion passed with all in favor.

The commissioners entered executive sessions during the morning for legal matters and later for personnel matters; the minutes note a Tax Appeal Hearing was held at 9:20 a.m., and Commissioner Wible abstained from that hearing due to a conflict of interest (separate minutes for the tax appeal are on file). The board recessed for a CJAB meeting at 10:58 a.m., resumed at 1:18 p.m., conducted personnel interviews for the Prothonotary's Office with the commissioners, the HR Administrator and the Chief Clerk, and adjourned at 3:05 p.m.

On a motion by Commissioner Bunch, the board appointed Commissioner Wible to perform his committee duties when his medical leave begins; that motion passed with all in favor.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the minutes): all motions listed in the minutes passed unanimously except where noted; the Tax Appeal Hearing recorded Commissioner Wible’s abstention due to a conflict of interest. The minutes generally record motions as “Motion by [name]” followed by “All in favor.”