CLOCK TOWER at Westminster Civic Center. (OC Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

 In what may have been an historically long and rancorous meeting, a divided Westminster City Council voted 3-2 to sanction controversial Councilmember Amy Phan West and strip her of appointments as representative to other government agencies.

The meeting dragged on for hours and was punctuated by angry shouts, councilmembers talking over each other and some low-grade vulgarisms.

In favor of the sanctions were Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen, Vice Mayor Kimberly Ho and Councilmember Carlos Manzo with Councilmembers Namquan Nguyen and West opposed.

“You’re gonna do what you’re gonna do,” said West before the vote. “You have the majority. Just like communist dictators.”

The city council originally voted to censure West in June, and adopted a resolution to that effect on Aug. 14, citing a list of 30 incidents of what was called “misconduct,” including disruptive behavior during meetings.

At that time, West was warned that if her conduct didn’t improve, the council majority could sanction her.

On Wednesday, she was defiant. In response to a demand that she “read, acknowledge and sign the [city council] ethics policy,” she said “No. Hell, no!” noting that she’d already signed it once.

The sanction revoked her appointment to the Orange County Council of Governments (alternate), Southern California Association of Governments (alternate), Orange County Mosquito & Vector Control (board of trustees), West Orange County Water Board (delegate) and City Council Homeless Ad Hoc Subcommittee (member).

It also included a warning that if her actions or behavior outside of her role as a council member resulted in legal action, the city may not defend her in court.