SCOTT, Pa. — A day after a concerned group of residents in Scott Township called for the resignation of a commissioner over a comment he made about the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, he has resigned.
Posted on the township’s Facebook page Wednesday morning, a post reads: “Commissioner Abel has resigned from his position on our Board of Directors. He has done so for his wife and family.”
During a June 9 meeting, Commissioner Paul Abel - who is also the vice president of the Scott Township Board of Commissioners - made the comment near the end of an official meeting.
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The Board apologized on Abel’s behalf, but he never made a formal apology.
Tuesday, a group calling themselves “Building Equity, Diversity + Inclusion in Scott Township” delivered a petition to the Township Manager, as well as township commissioners, and issued the following statement:
“We have asked for a response before June 23rd to schedule an informal meeting to discuss the petition. Over the weekend, we created a Facebook group, Building Equity, Diversity + Inclusion in Scott Township and currently have over 400 members, many of whom are willing to collaborate with the Township to create a more inclusive, welcoming, and safe Township. We realize that Commissioner Abel’s resignation is the first step. Commissioner Abel’s lack of a sincere, personal apology and promise to do better continues to demonstrate to us that he is unfit to hold a leadership position within our diverse community deserving of full acceptance and free of hateful speech, especially from an elected leader.”
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