The common council may compel the presence of absent members by sending the chief of police or any police officer to require their attendance. If any member refuses to attend after being notified, he shall state his reasons therefor to the council at its next meeting, and if the council, excluding the member whose refusal to attend is under consideration, unanimously deems such reasons insufficient in light of all circumstances, the council may impose such penalty which in their discretion the case warrants.
(Code 1982, § 2-211)