Committee: Reprimand Councilor Patten

The Concord City Council voted on March 8 to reprimand Ward 8 City Councilor after inappropriate interaction with a Concord Police officer relating to a traffic ticket issued to a friend.

The board, which historically handles cases brought before the council about the actions of councilors, employees, and complaints against them, voted 4-0 for the reprimand. The reprimand will be issued in a letter to Patten, who is also a state representative. The final decision on the reprimand will be approved by the council.

At issue was whether or not Patten abused his power as a councilor when he called a rookie police officer about a ticket issued to a friend who was pulled over after making an illegal left hand turn while driving on Clinton Street. Patten called the officer to ask why his friend wasn't given a warning and also stated that he would call the officer's supervisor, which some perceived as a threat to the officer. The officer reported the interaction to city officials and the council recommended the meet to discuss the issue.

In testimony about the issue, while uncomfortable with Patten’s actions, the councilors agreed that it did not rise to the level of dismissal.

, a former Ward 9 city councilor, who was representing Patten at the hearing and advising him on the process, requested that one member of the board, Ward 4 City Councilor , recuse herself from the hearing. In a memo, Rogers noted that due to previous comments made in an email to Patten, Grady’s neutrality on the matter was in question. Grady agreed and recused herself from that part of the meeting.

After the hearing ended, Rogers called the decision “a fair resolution” to the flap and said she would be working with Patten and City Solicitor about improving communication and understanding the city’s charter.

Concord NH Patch will have another story and video from the hearing soon.