Federal Heights – The manager who led this city through revitalization efforts and a controversy over the mayor working at a strip club has a new job.
Chuck Reid resigned as city manager last month after serving for nearly 2 1/2 years. His last day is May 19, after which he’ll work for Clifton Gunderson, a certified public accountant and consulting firm.
“I’m looking forward to the change; it will be a great opportunity,” Reid said Tuesday. “But I’ll miss the staff here and the work we have started.”
Fire Chief Andrew Marsh will serve as interim city manager until a permanent replacement is found.
Reid said the firestorm over Mayor Dale Sparks’ involvement with the Bare Essence strip club had no bearing on his departure.
Some residents claim Reid tried to cover up the fact that Sparks began working as a doorman at the club in April 2005. They also suggested Reid talked Sparks out of resigning as mayor once the club was raided by police last spring for prostitution.
Reid said he strictly followed city codes and state statutes during the fallout from the Bare Essence investigation.
The ensuing investigation did not implicate Reid.
Sparks, who said he did not know there was criminal activity at the club, also said Reid’s conduct during the investigation was above reproach.
Sparks survived a recall attempt in November and has been charged by a special prosecutor with three city criminal-code violations. Sparks’ trial is scheduled for July.
Reid said he’s proud of efforts to create a retail plaza at 104th Avenue and Federal Boulevard, cleaning up portions of Federal Boulevard and boosting code-enforcement activities in the city.
“We are sorry to lose him,” Sparks said. “We’ve done a lot of good things while he’s on board.”
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
