The council shall appoint a city manager who shall be the administrative head of the municipal government under the direction and supervision of the council and who shall hold office at the pleasure of the council.
In the event that the city manager is absent from his office by reason of illness, death, vacation, resignation, or removal, the member of council serving as chairman shall act as city manager and perform all the duties of such office, until such time as the city manager returns to his duties or the council appoints a new city manager to fill the vacancy.