(a) Except for the purpose of inquiry, and in case of emergency during the temporary absence or disability of the City Manager, the Commission and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the City Manager and neither the Commission nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the City Manager, either publicly or privately; neither shall any member of the Commission direct or request; (1) except for the election of those administrative officers required to be elected by the Commission, the appointment of any person to, or the removal of, any person from any employment or office for which the City Manager is responsible; nor (2) except at public meetings and in cases of letting of contracts, the purchase of any specific materials, supplies or equipment. It is not the intention of this provision to prevent frank discussion of the business of the City between the City Manager and the Commission or any member of the Commission at any time, but to prevent the personal favoritism or prejudice of any member of the Commission from hampering the administration of the city government as set forth in this charter.
(b) No member of the Commission shall vote on any question in which he has a financial interest, other than the common public interest, or on any question concerning his own conduct, but on all other questions each member who is present shall vote when his name is called unless excused by the unanimous consent of the remaining members present. Any member refusing to vote except when not so required by this paragraph shall be guilty of misconduct in office.