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FORTY FORT — Borough officials have confirmed that Frank Michaels has submitted his resignation from borough council.

The resignation must be accepted by council to take effect.

Michaels, who pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of children in September and was sentenced to three years in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program in November, continued in his position on council.

The former Coughlin High School principal was charged after failing to report an incident between former Coughlin teacher Stephen Stahl and a student over a decade ago.

Michaels was elected to a second term in November after charges were filed. Several residents demanded Michaels be removed from office at a council meeting in January.

Council President Jeff McLaughlin said during that meeting that the borough’s solicitor researched the matter and since the law regarding removal of an official was ambiguous, council was powerless to take action.

Mayor Andy Tuzinski said at the January meeting that Pennsylvania law makes it difficult to remove a council member from office.

“The thing about Pa., for every law they pass, there’s two they didn’t remove,” he said.

Michaels has served as a councilman for five years. He could not reached for comment Wednesday night.

Forty Fort Borough Council member Frank Michaels listens to Mayor Andy Tuzinski during the regular council meeting on Monday night. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_ssxxzzzx.jpg.optimal.jpgForty Fort Borough Council member Frank Michaels listens to Mayor Andy Tuzinski during the regular council meeting on Monday night. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Geri Gibbons

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Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons