“(7) The council shall not be obliged to accept either the lowest or any other of the tenders.
“(“8) A council member who knowingly, by his vote or otherwise, authorizes or brings about the awarding or signing, without public tenders, of a contract subject to this formality under subsection 1 may be held personally responsible toward the municipality for any loss or damage suffered by it.
“Proceedings for the recovery of any loss or damage shall be by way of ordinary action. Any ratepayer may exercise this recourse.”