Fulton County commissioners approve routine finances, authorize MATP allocations and launch prothonotary review

Fulton County Commissioners on Feb. 3, 2026 approved a series of routine and administrative actions, authorized transportation funding allocations and opened processes to review the county Prothonotary's Office.

Commissioner Randy H. Bunch, chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, called the meeting to order, led the opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance and then opened a public-comment period during which resident Carolyn Kerlin asked for updates on litigation matters affecting the county. After public comment, Commissioner Steven L. Wible moved to approve the Jan. 27, 2026 Commissioners' minutes and the Jan. 27, 2026 Salary Board minutes; both motions carried by unanimous voice vote.

The board approved payroll dated Feb. 6, 2026 totaling $129,990.81 and an accounts-payable batch dated Feb. 3, 2026 totaling $334,397.62. Chief Clerk Stacey M. Shives provided a fund breakdown for the accounts-payable total: General Fund $96,661.78; Liquid Fuels $13.13; HSDF/HSBG $165,835.26; Law Library $724.96; 911 $44,792.44; Domestic Relations $352.92; and Debt Service $26,017.13.

The commissioners recessed into an executive session at 8:30 a.m. to discuss legal matters and returned to open session at 9:20 a.m. Immediately afterward the board held a tax appeal hearing; Commissioner Wible abstained from that hearing because of a conflict of interest. Separate minutes for the tax appeal are on file.

HR Administrator Mary Huston presented the January 2026 Retirement Fund Report; Commissioner Bunch moved to approve and execute the report and the board approved it. The board also approved travel authorizations for Services for Children Director Christine McQuade and Services for Children Fiscal Technician Stephanie Mellott to attend the PA Children and Youth Administrators Conference March 11–13, 2026 in State College, Pennsylvania.

Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to engage KB&S (Kulla, Barkdoll & Stewart, P.C.) to provide professional legal and consulting services for a review of the Fulton County Prothonotary's Office; the engagement letter was approved by the board. Commissioner Hann also authorized Commissioner Wible to execute MATP (Medical Assistance Transportation Program) allocation letters for fiscal year 2024–2025 in the amount of $464,875.00 and for fiscal year 2025–2026 in the amount of $491,875.00; the board approved that authorization.

The commissioners approved a laptop quote submitted by Rick Grissinger of Elect IT to provide a device to be used in Franklin County for Jury Coordinator duties, and they approved an invoice from Franklin County Fiscal charging Fulton County $38,819.27 for fourth-quarter 2025 court costs (described in the minutes as 10% of court wages and benefits).

Commissioner Bunch moved the board into a second executive session at 10:35 a.m. to consider personnel matters and the board exited that session at 10:53 a.m. During the meeting the board authorized that, once Commissioner Bunch begins medical leave, Commissioner Wible will perform Bunch’s committee duties. The commissioners recessed at 10:58 a.m. for a Criminal Justice Advisory Board meeting and later resumed the regular meeting at 1:18 p.m. At that time the board again entered executive session for personnel matters, conducted interviews for the Prothonotary's Office with the Commissioners, the HR Administrator and the Chief Clerk, exited the session at 1:38 p.m., and adjourned the meeting at 3:05 p.m.

The minutes record no roll-call vote tallies beyond repeated notation of motions carrying by voice vote (“All in favor”). Separate minutes are on file for the tax appeal and for the Prothonotary interviews.