Fulton County commissioners adopt 2026 tentative budget, approve staff changes and routine contracts

FULTON COUNTY — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a 2026 tentative county budget and approved a slate of administrative and personnel measures during their Nov. 25, 2025 meeting at the commissioners’ office in McConnellsburg.

Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to adopt the 2026 tentative budget as presented by CFO Mike Lamb and Fiscal Administrator Sue Reed; the commission voted unanimously to approve it. The board said final adoption is scheduled for Dec. 30, 2025. The tentative budget governs the county’s spending plan during the period before final adoption.

The commissioners approved a personnel change for Veteran Affairs Director Richard Newman, voting to designate his position as the equivalent of 30 hours per week and thereby qualify him as a full‑time employee for benefits. The board cited additional state‑assigned duties connected to the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption in supporting the change.

The board also accepted proposed amendments to Section 212 (Employee Benefits) of the county HR manual after discussion with HR Administrator Mary Huston and asked Huston to return with final language for formal adoption.

Other actions approved included: accepting payroll dated Nov. 28, 2025, for $125,126.16; approving payables dated Nov. 28, 2025, totaling $674,010.68 across funds; executing Conservation District director reappointment letters for Gene Mellott and Mark Knepper; retroactive approval for Chief Clerk Stacey M. Shives to execute Krivak Trust signatory documents; and retroactive approval of a travel request for Shives.

Commissioners also approved payments and invoices including EPayment Now dog license fees of $2,363.50; a William Penn Printing invoice for $4,487.70; 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. They authorized Interim County 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 (total contribution $151,474).

A scheduled bid opening for the county property at 119 North Second Street in McConnellsburg produced no bids. Separately, the board participated in a CDBG project kickoff (via Zoom) with SEDA‑COG and county staff to begin work on the Warfordsburg Senior Center project.

The board approved a 2025 Wellness Improvement Program grant application requesting $1,769.60 to reimburse drinking water ($393.75) and to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) ($1,376.25) for a newly purchased county building. The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

Votes at a glance

- Amend agenda to add Board of Elections Meeting, 2026 Tentative Budget and America250PA Kickoff Event Letter — Mover: Commissioner Randy H. Bunch; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve Nov. 18, 2025 meeting minutes — Mover: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve Payroll (Nov. 28, 2025) $125,126.16 — Mover: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve Payables (Nov. 28, 2025) $674,010.68 — Mover: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: approved unanimously. - Enter/Exit Executive Session for legal matters — Mover: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: entered 8:06 a.m., exited 8:41 a.m. - Approve HR Manual Section 212 amendments (Employee Benefits) — Mover: Mary Huston (proposal); outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve Veteran Affairs Director Richard Newman as eligible for full‑time benefits (30 hours/week) — Mover: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: approved unanimously. - Accept Conservation District reappointments for Gene Mellott and Mark Knepper — Mover: Commissioner Steven L. Wible; outcome: approved unanimously. - Adopt 2026 tentative budget — Mover: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: approved unanimously. - Authorize Marty Mettille as America250PA advisor for Fulton County events — Mover: Commissioner Randy H. Bunch; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve specified invoices and grant application (amounts listed above) — outcome: approved unanimously.

The board scheduled final adoption of the 2026 budget for Dec. 30, 2025. No bids were received for the advertised county property sale, and separate committee and board meetings (Safety Committee, Election Board) were noted as having separate minutes on file.