Ogden mayor says Reid left on his own

By Kristen Moulton
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune

OGDEN - Mayor Matthew Godfrey and Stuart Reid both insisted Friday that Reid voluntarily quit his job as the city's top economic development official, a contradiction of what the Godfrey administration told the City Council earlier in the week.
The council, perplexed over Reid's $44,000 severance when he left the job July 15, had put its questions in writing to the mayor earlier this month. One of them asked whether Reid was terminated - which would entitle him to a severance payment - or resigned.
A month after Reid left the city, he and Godfrey signed a contract for Reid to manage the city-owned Business Depot Ogden (BDO), an industrial park, for $78,000 a year.
In a handwritten answer to the council under the heading "Administration's Response" this week, Mark Johnson, the city's management services director, said Reid had been asked to resign.
"After discussion with the mayor about his leaving, the mayor, as required and appropriate, asked Stuart for his resignation," was the administration's response.
Godfrey said Friday afternoon that he did not authorize that answer to the council's question and that it is not true.
Johnson did not return telephone calls seeking comment. However, he told the executive director of the council, Bill Cook, that he had not written the answer that appeared above his name, Cook said Friday night.
The answer, Johnson told Cook, was written by Godfrey's right-hand man, chief administrative officer John Patterson, after Johnson had signed the paper. Patterson did not return a call Friday night.
The distinction over whether Reid voluntarily resigned or was terminated has to do with the severance.
Under city code, only those who are terminated are entitled to a severance package. The code explicitly says that those who voluntarily quit will not be paid a severance.
However, the code acknowledges that some pre-existing employment agreements might allow different severance terms and that eligible employees would be entitled to the most advantageous terms. The code, first passed in 1979, has been amended several times in recent years, and it was not clear Friday night whether the clause referring to existing employment agreements pre-dated Reid's employment with the city.
In any case, Reid's agreement with Godfrey was not put in writing.
"This was something we talked about years ago. I'd get my severance when I left," Reid said. "I had an agreement with him whether it was written or not."
Godfrey said he believes the city code allows him the latitude to pay severance packages to those valuable employees he chooses.
Godfrey said other cities with similar codes might play games by pretending to fire people just so they can get severance payments. "It's still my belief and understanding that's not necessary."
The mayor said he is perturbed the council is questioning Reid's severance and his contract to manage BDO.
Reid, he said, was offered a job at three times the pay. "He turned it down because he wanted to stay and help out Ogden. To have to go through this garbage . . . I feel terrible about this."
Jesse Garcia, the City Council member who questioned Reid's severance, said it's not yet clear what action, if any, the council will take on the matter.