From Deseret News archives:
Bluffdale settles with fired official
The Bluffdale City Council late Tuesday night unanimously agreed to the terms of a settlement negotiated by the city attorney and legal counsel for Brent Bluth, who served as the city's administrative-services director.
Under the deal, Bluth will receive $59,059.50 — the equivalent of six months' salary and benefits, unused vacation time and attorney's fees. For his part, Bluth has agreed not to file any wrongful-termination lawsuits against the city.
Bluth, who had served as Bluffdale's administrative-services director since June 2003, was fired by Mayor Claudia Anderson on Jan. 17 without the advice and consent of the City Council. Two days later, Anderson appointed Dave Hogue, a former state representative and her political ally, to the post.
On March 12, a 3rd District judge ruled that the mayor did not have the authority to unilaterally make either decision, forcing Hogue out the door and paving the way for Bluth's return.
Despite pleas from the City Council for Bluth to resume his post, he opted not to do so. Bluth did not attend Tuesday's meeting, and attempts to reach him for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Councilman Bill Maxwell said he believes Anderson "did the city a great injustice" by firing Bluth. But Maxwell said he voted in favor of the settlement because "I don't wish to continue to punish this man."
In a statement read by Councilwoman Martha Speed and supported by the other council members, the City Council expressed its appreciation to Bluth for his service and its disappointment that he is no longer a city employee.
"We deeply regret the undeserved treatment (Bluth) was subjected to by Mayor Claudia Anderson since her election in November 2005," Speed said. "We can attest that every allegation of wrongdoing brought to the council by Mayor Anderson against Mr. Bluth proved to be unequivocally false."
Anderson said she fired Bluth in part because he was working with the City Council and against her on a residents' referendum over the city's form of government.
In September, the City Council passed an ordinance stripping Anderson of her administrative powers and shifting them to the city manager, a job then given to Bluth. Referendum petitions nullified the council's action pending a June 26 vote.
The mayor challenged the council's action in court, naming Bluth and the five members of the City Council as defendants in the lawsuit. A judge ruled in favor of the council and Bluth, but the mayor has kept the lawsuit open for a possible appeal.
As part of the settlement with Bluth, the former administrator will not be named as a defendant if the mayor chooses to appeal the ruling.
Maxwell asked the mayor Tuesday to drop the lawsuit completely, put the differences between her and council aside and begin focusing on the business of the city. Anderson declined, saying she's been advised by her attorney not to withdraw the lawsuit against the council.
"Then you really don't want to put this behind you," Maxwell said.
E-mail: jpage@desnews.com
