Horowhenua District Council mayor Michael Feyen says his resignation was demanded in an irate phone call from council chief executive David Clapperton last Thursday.
Mr Feyen said Mr Clapperton accused him of leaking an incomplete 'sensitive expenditure' audit report that described email blocking and alleged tampering at HDC.
"There is no way in the world an unelected person can go and tell me to put my resignation on the table. That's not lucid communication or conversation. I hung up in his ear," Mr Feyen said.
Mr Clapperton did not respond for comment before this paper went to press.
Mr Feyen last month asked Cr Ross Campbell to make a public statement about the report on his behalf and to release his statement to the media, according to minutes from HDC's finance, audit and risk committee.