A Hamilton councilwoman expressed frustration Wednesday with a fellow member for chronically missing meetings.

Councilwoman Kathleen Klink publicly discussed the absences of Councilman Archie Johnson, saying “It seems to me that the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, everyone needs to be here … and Mr. Johnson is almost always not here. We need to be here to work with our city manager, our city staff and to be at committee meetings.”

Johnson was excused from Wednesday’s council meeting after notifying City Manager Joshua Smith’s office via email of an unexpected work commitment. He was unaware of Klink’s comment until contacted by the JournalNews Thursday afternoon.

“This is the first I’ve heard of anyone questioning this,” he said. “No one on council has said anything about to me. … I guess some council members have a little more flexibility than I do and I guess that’s why they’re able to do what they can do.”

According to city records, since Jan. 12, 2011, there have been 61 regular and special meetings and work sessions convened by council. Between Jan. 12, 2011, and Wednesday, Johnson has missed more meetings than the other six members combined. Johnson has missed 21 meetings and has an attendance rate of 66 percent. Of those absences all but three were excused by council. He is the only council member who has unexcused absences.

Vice Mayor Carla Fiehrer and Councilman Timothy Naab have each missed five meetings and have a 92 percent attendance record; Klink has missed three meetings and has a 95 percent attendance record; Councilmen Rob Wile and Robert Brown have missed two meetings each and have a 97 percent attendance record. Only Mayor Pat Moeller has a perfect attendance record for that time period.

Council members are paid $300 annually; the mayor is paid $15,900 annually. All seven council members receive a gas and oil reimbursement of $1,200 annually and are eligible to participate in the city’s health plan. Every council member, minus Klink, is enrolled in the city’s health plan.

Being a council member requires full-time public interaction even though it’s a part-time job, Johnson said.

“I would hope if a council member had something to say about another, they would call that person about it first,” he said. “If it’s a level of frustration, that person should have called that council member first. If not, it shows a great level of disrespect.”

Mayor Pat Moeller said having all seven council members at meetings “makes us stronger at the table” and understands that people have to miss meetings from time to time.

While he respects Klink’s feelings, Moeller said he would have preferred if she had made her comments privately. He said he hopes council talks among each other about the matter.

Bob Harris, president of the Southeast Civic Association, said all council members need to be held accountable, but doesn’t know why Johnson’s absence was highlighted since council excused it.

“I was surprised that Kathy brought it up,” Harris said. “It would have come across better if he (Johnson) had been there instead of him being shot in the back.”