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West Jordan city's internal feud is taking another twist, with a special session of the City Council called Wednesday for a vote that could lead to the reversal of last week's mysterious ouster of City Attorney Jeff Robinson.

The emergency meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m., was initiated by Councilman Ben Southworth, who says Mayor Kim Rolfe had no authority under the city's manager-council form of government to orchestrate Robinson's being placed on paid leave and escorted out of City Hall by the chief of police.

"In my opinion it appears to be improper and illegal that Jeff Robinson was put on leave," Southworth said Tuesday. "I'm not a judge and jury, but it appears that way to me."

Southworth said it's time for West Jordan to get back on track after months of internal turmoil.

"I'll just be frank — what I see is an abuse of power," he said. "There is a culture of fear that is running through the city of West Jordan right now. ... I say as a two-term council member, I have served with three different mayors and I have never seen such dysfunction and a lack of leadership."

Rolfe said he would not respond to those charges, although he said the infighting is not keeping the city from keeping its focus on important issues.

Rolfe and Southworth were rivals in the 2013 election, but say they are not carrying grudges.

The mayor did say he initiated the suspension of Robinson at the direction of the full council and believes any attempt to reverse that action would be challenged.

The resolution on the agenda doesn't call for reinstatement of Robinson, but is in the form of a vote of confidence for acting City Manager Bryce Haderlie to run the day-to-day affairs of the city.

"It's basically to reaffirm we're placing our support in Bryce Haderlie as the acting city manager and with that comes all the responsibilities and duties that are afforded the executive, under our form of government," Southworth said. "Jeff Robinson's employment falls under that [executive] role."

Whether Robinson chooses to return may be a different matter.

"I don't even know at this point if Jeff would accept [reinstatement]. I've spoken to Jeff and he's a little hesitant, from Jeff's perspective, if he wants to step back in the crossfire again or the crosshairs again," Southworth said.

He said it was particularly aggravating that the mayor and another councilman suggested a link between Robinson's suspension and investigations into the city by the Salt Lake County district attorney's office and the Davis County attorney.

"We can't substantiate that," Southworth said.

Rolfe, who asked for the Salt Lake County investigation into the hiring of former Councilman Justin Stoker as city public works deputy director, met with D.A. Sim Gill on Monday.

"I did meet with him and there is an investigation, an active investigation, going forward. That's all I can say at this time," Rolfe said Tuesday. He intends to make a report of the meeting to the full council Wednesday.

Another item placed on the agenda by Rolfe is discussion of selection of the city's legal representation. The mayor favors a new direction, which could mean hiring an outside firm to replace the city attorney's office.

A third agenda item is moving forward with hiring an executive recruiting firm to recruit a new city manager. Haderlie has been acting executive for several months since City Manager Richard Davis stepped down abruptly, and without explanation, in August.