Resignation

The secretary to Bristol Township's council resigned two days after she was appointed to replace Thomas McDermott, who was fired after talking to the press about budgetary discrepancies in a community development grant program. The secretary, Cindy Kennedy, handed in a letter of resignation June 23. Councilmen Harold Saxton and David Hite said the council might try to persuade Kennedy to remain secretary, a part-time, $1,500-a-year post. Kennedy, also the township's recreation director, would not comment on the resignation.

The resignation of Springfield School District Business Manager Donald W. Yost has prompted testimonials from teachers and administrators but none so strong as a letter written by the district's principals and assistant principals. The letter was read last Thursday at a school board meeting by Springfield High School principal Joseph J. O'Brien. "We were all dismayed" about Yost's resignation, O'Brien began. "This is a serious concern to us. " "Don has always demonstrated extreme dedication.

Bill Clinton should not resign. Not now anyway. And certainly not for anything found in Kenneth Starr's trashy, sermonizing report. The only thing to be gained from resignation would be a quick release from the mental anguish many people feel over having a president they think effective but can no longer look in the eye. And the trade-off for that instant gratification would be too great. If anything, Clinton's troubles should remind us how costly instant gratification can be. Resigning now would mean it would be okay for future presidents to be subjected to the same kind of intrusive sexual scrutiny Clinton has endured.

Although Edward P. Morgan resigned as chairman of the Haverford Township Zoning Hearing Board 10 days ago, he has steadfastly declined to say why. Now Fred C. Moran, the new president of the township commissioners, says that he learned that Morgan did not live in the township during at least part of the time he served on the board. Morgan, however, says that the residence issue had "absolutely nothing to do" with his decision, and that he has lived on West Washington Avenue in Havertown for about three years.

William Whitmore, the senior member of the Upper Merion Zoning Hearing Board who tendered his resignation in a political tiff last week, said Monday that he would reconsider. After the Board of Supervisors declined to accept his resignation and voted Monday to ask him to stay, Whitmore agreed to think about it. "I'm not so adamant that I'm not willing to talk and discuss this," Whitmore said in an interview after the supervisors' action. "They have opened the door for discussion, and that is the next step.

The surprise resignation Tuesday of Hal Pote, the high-profile chief executive officer of First Fidelity, has sent a shiver through the non-profit organizations on whose boards he sits. "It (the resignation) is a great shock to us," said James McClelland, director of development for the Settlement Music School. "We don't know what will be happening. " Pote, 41, has been an active member on the board of the Pennsylvania Ballet, the city's Private Industry Council and the mayor's Sinking Fund Commission, in addition to his involvement in the music school.

Richard B. Shupp has submitted his resignation as secretary of the Springfield School District. He has served in the position since July 1. Shupp, 54, said he was resigning because he has also resigned as business administrator of the district, a position he held for 23 years. Both resignations are effective June 29. At the school board's meeting Tuesday night, board president Max L. Lieberman thanked Shupp for his work. After the meeting, Shupp said he had decided to take an early retirement "to try something new for me. " He said he would embark on a new career as a retirement counselor with Lincoln Investment Co. of Jenkintown when he leaves the school district.

The 1990s have not started out very well for the Newtown Township Planning Commission. Two weeks into the new year, former Chairman Kenneth Beck resigned. A week later, Vice Chairman Edwin Ksensik followed suit. In addition to holding leadership roles within the commission, Beck and Ksensik were its most experienced members, having served on the commission since the 1970s. The two men cited similar reasons for their resignations - the firing of a secretary of one of the commmission's subcommittees by the Board of Supervisors, and the board's repeated attempts to gain more control over decisions made by the commission.

CIA Director George Tenet resigned yesterday, for "personal reasons. " Tenet submitted his resignation, effective July 11, before the release of two high-profile reports expected to be critical of the CIA. A report by the Senate Intelligence Committee is a reportedly "scathing" assessment of pre-war intelligence on Iraq's weapons. A second report, by the independent Sept. 11 inquiry, will review CIA missteps before the terrorist attacks. A third assessment, by a bipartisan seven-member commission appointed by President Bush, is to report on Iraq intelligence errors by next March.

Bob Watson is resigning as general manager of the New York Yankees after two full seasons that included a World Series championship and frequent run-ins with owner George Steinbrenner, the Associated Press has learned. Watson was to announce his resignation at a news conference today, a source told the AP. Assistant general manager Brian Cashman was to take over once Watson ties up some loose ends with the team. It was not known what Watson would do after his resignation, which also was reported by ESPN.