Utility Official Under Investigation Resigns

Henry Pepper, the city water utility department manager under investigation for allegedly making a sexually explicit speech during a social gathering at City Hall West, has resigned, city officials said Wednesday.

Pepper’s last day of work was Tuesday, nine days after an anonymous letter was sent to top city officials by someone who identified herself as a female employee. The letter complained about comments Pepper allegedly made earlier this month at a potluck celebrating the impending marriage of a male employee.

The letter said that Pepper displayed sadomasochistic devices when giving suggestions about how married couples can maintain sexual interest in each other. Such conduct should not be tolerated by a public official, the writer said.

Pepper could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

In a letter to Ed Aghjayan, general manager of the public utilities department, Pepper wrote that he wished “to pursue other endeavors,” city spokesman Bret Colson said. Pepper did not mention the allegations, Colson said.

Pepper had worked for the city for less than a year and had remained on the job while the city manager’s office and human resources department began investigating the allegations.

“Officially, the city never completed its investigation into the alleged incident,” Colson said. “Beyond that, it has become a personnel matter and we don’t want to comment further.”