Neither the Council nor any of its members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to, or his removal from, office by the City Manager or by any of his subordinates, or in any manner take part in the appointment or removal of officers in the administrative service of the City, except that members of the Council may recommend to the City Manager for his consideration, qualified persons for positions in the administrative branch of the City government. Except for the purposes of inquiry, the Council and its members shall deal with the administrative services solely through the City Manager and neither Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the City Manager, either publicly or privately. Any councilman violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall cease to be a councilman.