Fulton County commissioners approve drug-and-alcohol grant, hire enforcement officer and adopt health-insurance opt-out payment

Fulton County commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a 2025–2030 grant agreement with Franklin County designating Franklin County as the single-county authority for the Drug & Alcohol Program, hired a Domestic Relations Enforcement Officer and updated the county’s health-insurance opt-out payment policy.

The action came at the commissioners’ regular meeting Jan. 13 in the Commissioners’ Office in McConnellsburg. Commissioners Randy H. Bunch, Steven L. Wible and Hervey P. Hann were present; Chief Clerk Stacey M. Shives is listed in the minutes as attending.

The board approved Franklin/Fulton Grant Agreement #4100101172 with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs for operation and administration of a single-county authority. Executive Development Director Julie Dovey presented the agreement; Commissioner Randy H. Bunch moved to approve and execute it and the motion carried.

Commissioners also authorized Domestic Relations Director Tina Gress to fill a vacant Enforcement Officer 1 position and voted to hire Angie Horton for that union position, effective Jan. 26, 2026. A brief Salary Board meeting was held to set Horton’s salary under the collective bargaining agreement, with separate minutes on file.

In personnel and benefit policy changes, the board approved the county’s 2026 pay scale as presented by HR Administrator Mary Huston and adopted a revision to Section 212, "Employee Benefits," of the HR Manual establishing an opt-out payment for eligible employees who waive health insurance. The approved language reads in part: "Opt-out of health insurance: Effective January 1, 2026, any eligible employee waiving health insurance coverage will receive a monetary payment that is pro-rated according to what is waived for that year. The maximum amount paid in a calendar year will be $1,020 ($85/month). The waiting period will be excluded when calculating payment. This opt-out will be paid with the final payroll in December or upon your resignation. You must leave in good standing in order to receive this payment." The motion to adopt the revision was made by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann and carried.

The board approved routine financial items and invoices including accounts payable dated Jan. 13, 2026 totaling $135,622.38 (General Fund $66,644.09; Capital Projects $64,720.44) and a CCAP PCoRP invoice, second installment, for $45,442. The board also approved a SAP&DC invoice for local county/transportation support in the amount of $8,598.00.

The commissioners approved an Application for Burial Expenses for veteran Floyd G. McGinnis, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1968; payment is to be made to his surviving spouse, Janet McGinnis. The board approved a renewal quote for ASPIRE two-factor authentication as submitted by Rick Grissinger, Elect IT.

The board voted to revise the county’s LERTA application to require "Inspection by Zoning Officer or Fulton County Planning." Commissioners accepted Ronald Richards as the real estate agent for county property at 119 N. 2nd Street, McConnellsburg, PA, awarding the agent a 3% commission on sale. Several intervals of executive session for personnel matters were recorded in the minutes; the minutes do not detail the matters discussed in executive session.

The meeting adjourned at 11:33 a.m.

Votes at a glance: The minutes record motions followed by "All in favor" for the listed approvals; the transcript does not include individual roll-call votes.