Monday’s Pacific City Council meeting introduced a new twist in the ongoing drama, with the absence of several city staff, including the acting city clerk, who normally would take minutes of the meeting.

Mayor Cy Sun – who was also a no-show at the meeting – told staff not to attend because “the staff is all unraveled with nervousness from the pressure the council has been putting on them.”

Although Sun did not elaborate on the specifics of the pressure alledgedly brought to bear by the council, an April 10 memo from Pacific Finance Director and acting City Clerk Betty Garrison cited the April 8 council meeting, where she was asked to assist the council in returning Police Lt. Edwin Massey’s badge, commission card, keys and computer, on the order of Mayor Pro Tem James McMahon.

“The Council meeting on Monday was HORRID, it was one of the most difficult experiences that I have ever had to endure,” Garrison wrote. “To sit and take notes while I was vilified by Staff and the Public, is more than anyone should be expected to endure, when their only guilt was in following the order of their supervisor. It was wrong. I felt I was repeatedly attacked by Staff, Citizens, Council and the Attorney. I was called into the hall during a recess taken specifically to instruct me to violate an order giving to me by my superior; I was surrounded by the Attorney, Council and Staff on the stairs in the hallway; I felt attacked.”

At the April 8 meeting – which Sun did not attend – McMahon tried to facilitate Massey’s return to duty, as ordered by the Pacific Civil Service Commission.

Massey – as well as Pacific Police Chief John Calkins – was suspended with pay on March 22 pending an investigation into harassment and intimidation, according to Sun.

The commission ruled in favor of an appeal by Calkins and Massey on April 4, and ordered Sun to reinstate them to duty. So far Sun has refused to comply with the commission’s ruling. The commission has filed a Writ of Mandate with the King County Superior Court to force Sun to reinstate Calkins and Massey. The case will be heard on May 3 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Despite the absence of a city clerk, Monday’s meeting went forward as planned with Councilmembers Joshua Putnam and Tren Walker taking notes and recording the minutes.

ALSO: On Friday the Pierce County Superior Court will hear arguments of a counter petition to a Writ of Mandate ordering Sun to fill vacant positions in city hall.

Sun, through his lawyer Tyler Firkins, filed the counter petition citing the council’s refusal to confirm his appointment of Sandy Paul as the city clerk.

“The Council had turned me down on hiring a City Clerk, who is the pivot-point for the Council meetings,” Sun said via e-mail. “I cannot hire my choice for a City Clerk. The Council is blocking me. My choice is Sandy Paul, who is certified with years of experience. The other three candidates are not certified and have no experience as a City Clerk.”

Although the mayor is responsible for appointment of department heads in Pacific, the city council must approve his choices.

The council voted 4-2 against Paul’s confirmation at a special meeting on April 1.

Sun said he plans to continue to fight for Paul’s confirmation.

“I’m submitting Sandy Paul for the Council consent for the second time,” Sun wrote. “I’m sure they’re going to block me again.”