(A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, the board of township trustees may appoint a township administrator, who shall be the administrative head of the township under the direction and supervision of the board and who shall hold office at the pleasure of the board.

(2) The board of township trustees shall appoint a township administrator before the adoption of a resolution under division (A)(1) of section 504.01 of the Revised Code directing the board of elections to submit to the electors of the unincorporated territory of the township the question of whether the township should adopt a limited home rule government. The administrator shall be the administrative head of the township under the direction and supervision of the board and shall hold office at the pleasure of the board.

(B) In the event that the township administrator is absent from that office by reason of illness, death, vacation, resignation, or removal, the chairperson of the board or a qualified person designated by the chairperson with the approval of the board shall act as township administrator and perform all duties of such township office, until such time as the township administrator returns to official duties or the board appoints a new township administrator to fill the vacancy.

(C) The board shall fix the salary of the township administrator and cause the same to be paid.