Patterson resigns as W.V. manager

WEST VALLEY CITY — Dogged by what he called rumors that just won't die, 11-year city manager John Patterson resigned Thursday night.

"I love West Valley City. I don't want to do anything to take away from this community," an emotional Patterson said over the phone Friday. "This has just got to end."

Mayor Dennis Nordfelt said Patterson, who is married, received disciplinary action at an annual performance review Tuesday, during which he was told not to continue an "association" with a former West Valley employee. The woman was Patterson's assistant at one time.

According to Nordfelt, the two were seen in a car Oct. 14 at the Valley Fair Mall. Patterson had been told previously to sever ties with the woman, he said. Tuesday, Patterson received what Nordfelt called a verbal reprimand and "informal probation" that was to last indefinitely.

"He was told he had crossed the line," Nordfelt said.

He said the disciplinary action was taken because several people felt Patterson's relationship was having a negative impact on morale and rumors about it were creating a "lack of confidence and trust." Nordfelt said there was no evidence of any "immoral" behavior and that the relationship was simply too close to be professional. It was affecting Patterson's ability to lead the city, the mayor said.

"We may have been close at one time, but we are not now," Patterson said of the woman. "I wish that people would just have allowed the past to remain there and allow the rumor-mongering to cease and desist."

The resignation is effective immediately.

Both the mayor and seven-year City Councilman Russ Brooks said Patterson will be missed.

"John was kind of like the grease that went to the wheels to get things done," Brooks said. "We're going to continue to move forward. We're losing someone we all had respect for."

Assistant city manager Wayne Pyle will fill Patterson's post until the City Council can find a replacement. Patterson said he will seek employment outside of Utah. He'll probably get a severance package, Nordfelt said, along with next year's salary, which is around $120,000.

The resignation came on the heels of allegations from Utah Legislative Watch state director Claire Geddes that Patterson acted unethically in his efforts to raise money for the former assistant's daughter, a Miss America pageant candidate.

Patterson sent 27 letters on city letterhead to contacts last August, asking for monetary donations. The recipients, some of whom had done business with West Valley City, were asked to donate $500 or $1,000 so the daughter could cover the high costs of competing in the national pageant. Patterson, who has raised money for a variety of charities, raised around $8,000 for the unsuccessful candidate.