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