For the second month in a row, the East Nottingham Township Board of Supervisors meeting ended with a supervisor resigning from the five-person board.

Michael Watson, who was elected to the board in 2017, announced his surprise resignation in the closing minutes of the Dec. 11 meeting.

Watson said that he was very proud of the work that the Board of Supervisors has done to improve the quality of life for residents during the last year. He mentioned saving taxpayers money by researching the best prices on health care coverage for township employees, the hiring of a new township secretary, improvements to the township website, and the addition of a junior supervisor as just a few of the accomplishments that he is proud that the board accomplished.

However, Watson said, he had grown uncomfortable with the politics involved with serving as a supervisor, and he particularly did not want to continue to deal with the negativity or compromise his integrity in order to continue as a supervisor. He also said that he was stepping aside as a township representative on the Oxford Area Recreation Authority Board.

“I’m not going to be bullied,” Watson said. “It’s not going to happen. I’m not a political person. I don’t aspire to be one. I’m not comfortable with what I see, and I don’t want to be a part of it.”

Watson did not elaborate on who might be attempting to bully the supervisors. He said that he prefers to focus on his family and his work at this time.

Watson’s resignation comes just one month after Shelley Meadowcroft tendered her resignation from the East Nottingham Township Board of Supervisors. Meadowcroft resigned because renovation work on her family’s home has required a brief move out of the township.

The supervisors moved quickly to fill the vacancy created with Meadowcroft's resignation. Bill Weaver, the township's roadmaster, was selected to fill that position on the board in late November.

Now, the remaining supervisors—Joe Herlihy, Art Rieck, Sam Goodley, Jr. and Weaver—will need to make another appointment.

Several supervisors asked Watson if he wanted some time to think about the resignation before they accepted it, but Watson said that he was certain of his decision and wanted the supervisors to act accordingly.

The four supervisors reluctantly accepted Watson’s resignation before they adjourned the meeting. The vote was 3-1 to accept the resignation. Several supervisors expressed their gratitude to Watson for his work on the board.