An alternate member of the council shall sit as a voting member of the council if the member for whom he or she is an alternate fails for any reason to attend any meeting of the council. The alternate member shall be compensated and reimbursed in the same manner and to the same extent as a voting member when so serving. When so serving, the alternate member has all of the powers, duties, liabilities, and immunities of the member in whose place he or she is serving, except that the alternate to the chair or vice chair shall not succeed to the functions of these offices.