The councilman whose attendance was called into question by a fellow council member said Wednesday night he “won’t address it.”

Councilman Archie Johnson has missed 21 of 61 regular meetings, special meetings and work sessions of Hamilton City Council since Jan. 1, 2011. Councilwoman Kathleeen Klink called his record into question two weeks ago during a meeting for which Johnson was not present.

“I don’t want to address it and I won’t address it,”Johnson said during the council comments portion of Wednesday’s meeting. “We have a $5.7 million shortfall (for the 2013 budget) and that’s where we should be spending our energies on.”

Klink and the other council members did not respond.

Bob Harris, president of the Southeast Civic Association, described the last meeting as “ugly” and said Klink “should have had the courtesy to say it when he’s (Johnson) is there.”

“If you have something to say, say it face to face,” he said.

Harris also said council should comment on the concerns and issues raised by residents, and “not just hear them and say nothing.”

Johnson told the JournalNews Tuesday that neither he nor Klink have discussed their comments, even though all seven council members attended a six-hour team-building retreat Monday on how to effectively communicate with each other at the Fitton Center. The retreat was planned nine months ago, according to city officials.

In other business, council approved an ordinance allowing the city to charge parking fees for special events at city parks. Also approved was a resolution adopting policies and procedures for the city’s land bank to acquire various properties for redevelopment.