Question: Oh, sure.
Nope.

Answer: no

Question: Barry's friends and local business leaders have been trying for months to find a way to let him exit with honor--to give him a gracious payoff in exchange for his decision to step down.
Barry has stepped down would be incorrect because they're still trying to find a way to do it with his honor intact.

Answer: no

Question: that's a hard process isn't it
It's a very simple process.

Answer:
no