The text below has been corrected for two serious errors. First, Richardson was initially incorrectly identified as the current deputy mayor. That mistake was initially corrected March 9, the day after online publication, but an older version of the article slipped into print. Second, the text stated council canceled its special meeting after discussing the absence with Richardson. That mistake was the result of a misunderstanding of a statement by City Administrator Diane Supler: she in fact said the council had canceled the meeting after having a conversation regarding Richardson. Daniel Nash apologizes for the mistake.

Sumner city councilman and former deputy mayor Matt Richardson will take a leave of absence from his public duties for six weeks until mid-April, according to discussion in Monday’s city council meeting.

Richardson notified City Administrator Diane Supler he would be absent for six weeks due to unspecified personal circumstance, according to a Feb. 26 letter.

Supler had scheduled a special 6 p.m. meeting “as a security measure,” she said, in case council needed the time. After reviewing the matter, Council cancelled the special meeting to discuss the issue in its regular meeting.

Council briefly discussed the leave of absence, and the council’s inclinations in regards to excusing the absence, during the regular meeting.

Under RCW 35A.12.060, a council position becomes vacant if the person holding that position is absent for three consecutive meetings and the council does not excuse those absences. Mayor Dave Enslow told the Courier-Herald those absences included study sessions, meaning the seat will vacate March 21 without an excuse.

No motion was made during the meeting to excuse Richardson’s absence. Councilman Leroy Goff made a motion to make an excused absence conditional on Richardson providing the reason for the absence, but that motion was not seconded.

If the council does not excuse Richardson’s absence, his seat will become vacant March 21, the third week of his stated leave.