Washington (CNN) The Baltimore City Council called Monday for Democratic Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign amid a scandal over a major purchase of children's books she authored by the University of Maryland Medical System and other groups.

"The entire membership of the Baltimore City Council believes that it is not in the best interest of the City of Baltimore, for you to continue to serve as Mayor. We urge you to tender your resignation, effective immediately," the two-sentence letter read.

In a statement, council member Brandon Scott, who tweeted a photo of the letter Monday, noted the "severity of the action (the council members) have taken," but said Baltimore was deserving of a mayor who can focus on other issues affecting the city.

Please see letter from my colleagues and I to @MayorPugh50. We strongly believe that for the sake of Baltimore @MayorPugh50 should resign from office. pic.twitter.com/1oaZZkmh38 — Brandon M. Scott (@CouncilmanBMS) April 8, 2019

The letter was signed by 14 members of the 15-member council -- the only member not to sign it was Bernard C. "Jack" Young, the council's president who has been serving as the "ex officio Mayor of Baltimore City" since Pugh took a leave of absence last week.

Despite the calls for her to step down, Pugh does not plan on vacating her post, according to her spokesman, James Bentley. In a statement issued Monday, Bentley said Pugh, whose current term expires in 2020, "fully intends to resume the duties of her office and continuing her work on behalf of the people and the City of Baltimore."

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