271 Meeting ofthe Fulton Commissioners 5 - County Tuesday, October 31, 2023 8:30 a.m. at the Commissioners' Office a PNID LPAATNA Present: Commissioner Ulsh, Commissioner Bunch and Commissioner Shives Guests: John Greathead, Coy Hill, Brenda Hill, Carolyn Kerlin, Sue Powell, Doug Powell, John Carpenter, Joan Carpenter, Gary Pilkerton, Wayne Helsel and Brad Wissinger Chairman Ulsh opened the meeting with silent prayer and all recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Commissioner Ulsh opened up the floor for Public Comment Period. Several guests addressed the Commissioners on the topic of the ongoing litigation oft the Dominion Voting Machines. John Carpenter who was listed on the agenda at 9:00 a.m. also spoke during Public Comment Period and addressed his concerns. Motion by Commissioner Bunch to approve the Commissioners Minutes of the October 24, 2023 meeting. All in favor. Motion by Commissioner Bunch to approve the Accounts Payables dated October 30, 2023 in the amount of $180,818.02. All in favor. Fund 100 General Fund 102,275.89 Manual Checks $0.00 TOTAL GENERAL FUND $102,275.89 Fund 201 Liquid Fuels 11.25 Fund 229 HSDFIHSBG 15,106.37 Fund 238 911 1,302.85 Fund 256 Domestic Relations 72.00 Fund 262 Act 13 Marcellus Shale Recreational 1,000.00 Fund 275 Medical Assistance Transportation 31,616.00 Fund 400 Debt Service 29,433.66 TOTAL ALL FUNDS $180,818.02 Motion by Commissioner Shives to approve Payroll dated November 3, 2023 in the amount of $113,508.61. All in favor. Commissioners met with County Auditors Penny Kipp, Holly Falkosky and Margaret Kobel for an Annual Audit Review. The auditors presented a report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 272 noting that they filed the DCED report online and published a notice in the Fulton County News. The full report is also on the county website. The auditors shared some information that they learned from attending the 60th Annual Pennsylvania State Auditor's Convention October 1-4, 2023, Margaret Kobel was thanked for her service of four years to the county since she will not be returning as an auditor in 2024. Also in attendance was Fiscal Administrator Lisa Beatty. Motion by Commissioner Bunch to authorize Commissioner Ulsh to sign the Certification Form for the Opioid Trust Distributions for 2023 certifying that Settlement funds received by the County of Fulton will be used in a manner consistent with the abatement uses described in Exhibit E of the settlements and all other terms of the settlements". All in favor. Motion by Commissioner Ulsh to adopt Ordinance No. 1 of 2023, "an ordinance authorizing tax exemptions from property tax for certain deteriorated industrial, commercial or other business property; defining eligible, deteriorated areas; setting a maximum exemption amount and an exemption schedule; and providing a procedure for securing an exemption", effective January 1, 2024. All in favor. Motion by Commissioner Shives to approve an application for burial expenses of a deceased service person, Foster Park, to be payable to his Next of Kin- Daughter, Patty Jo Hunsinger. Park was a Veteran of the Korean War and resident of Fulton County for the past 93 years. All in favor. Motion by Commissioner Bunch to approve the Final Payment Application to Antares Site Work in the amount of $21,335.26 for the Probation Office Steps Project as recommended from the Keller Engineer's Letter stating that they have reviewed the application. The project was funded under the PCOMP and PCorP Safety Grant Program. All in favor. Commissioners signed the October 2023 Retirement Fund Report and the Tax Assessment Appeals Hearing Minutes from October 3rd and 24th of 2023. Commissioner Shives signed the MATP 1st Quarter Report for Period 0f774/2023-9/30/2023. Commissioners met with HR Administrator Mary Huston to review and approve the new hire for the Prothonotary's Office and to discuss the vacant position for MDJ Horne's Office. Motion by Commissioner Shives to hire April McLaurin to fill the full time position of Office Deputy 1 in the Prothonotary's Office, effective November 13, 2023. All in favor. A brief Salary Board meeting was held at 10:45 a.m. Separate minutes are on file. A lengthy discussion was held between the Commissioners in regards to dismissal of the Law Office of Stefanie L. Lambert PLLL and Attorney Thomas J. Carroll as Special Counsel to represent the County of Fulton relating to past election matters and election equipment. Motion by Commissioner Shives that Special Counsel be dismissed for the reasons already stated at the October 17, 2023 meeting and that she didn't think it was in the county's best interest and also stated that she feels there is a hidden agenda that is also not in the county's 273 best interest. Commissioner Ulsh-Opposed; Commissioner Bunch-Opposed. Motion failed on a: 1-2 vote. Commissioner Ulsh stated that the reason he opposed dismissing Special Counsel in midstream was that it would be hard to get someone else up to speed on what is going on and that there is no cost to the county to retain them since they are pro bono as opposed to using the County Solicitor. Ulsh further stated that what. was done, was done under County Code and it is the Commissioners' responsibility to safeguard, inspect, investigate and report. Ulsh concluded with saying "I feel the most critical thing in life is freedom and who you can elect. Election integrity is everything to me and is high on my agenda. Everybody regardless of affiliation deserves a fair and free election and if there is an issue, it is the duty of the Election Board to figure it out". Commissioner Shives stated that she agreed with Commissioner Ulsh pertaining to his quote on freedom and elections, however she did not have any reason to doubt the integrity of the 2020 election. Shives also stated that she felt that Special Counsel had something to do with the thrid party tainting of the voting machine equipment since the money funneled through them. Shives concluded with saying "I feel the county is in a mess and am trying to do what I can to get the county out of the mess, - don't believe you can have inspection of voting machines from two companies with two different results. The voting machines were used in two other elections, we have to have trust". Commissioner Bunch stated that his reason for opposing was as stated in the October 17, 2023 Commissioner's Meeting Minutes which stated "Without election integrity, we have nothing and I want to keep the attorneys we have due to further litigation and will answer for this to God someday and I know I did the right thing". Motion by Commissioner Shives to adjourn at 1:05 p.m. All in favor. FULTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Stuart L. Ulsh, Chair RandyH. Bunch, Vice-Chair Poula Shhusli Paula J. Shives Resgectfully Submitted, A ld FACL . Stacey MGolden, Chief Clerk 274