AN ACT to incorporate the City of Morristown in Hamblen County, Tennessee.

CHARTER TABLE OF CONTENTS

INCORPORATION

Section 1.  The inhabitants of the City of Morristown, as the same extends and is laid out, are hereby constituted a corporation and body politic, by the name and style of the "City of Morristown," and by the same name shall have perpetual succession; shall sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in all courts of law and equity, and in all actions whatsoever, may purchase, receive and hold property, real and personal in their said city, and may sell, lease or dispose of the same for the benefit of said city; and may purchase, receive and hold property, real and personal, beyond the limits of the city, to be used for the burial of the dead; and may sell, lease or dispose of such property for the city; and to do all other acts touching the same, as natural persons. They shall have and use a common seal and change it at pleasure. They may own and control a waterworks system, electric light plant, gas plant and public school buildings and equipment. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

CITY COUNCIL

Sec. 2.  There shall be a city council, which shall consist of a mayor and four aldermen, who shall be elected by the qualified voters of the city to serve for a term of four years, and until their successors are elected and qualified, except that the aldermen representing the first and third wards shall each serve one term of two years commencing the second Monday in May of 1979 and expiring the second Monday in May of 1981. Said aldermen representing the first and third wards shall thereafter be elected to serve four year terms.

No person shall be elected to the council unless he be a citizen of the State of Tennessee, and a bona fide resident of the city. One alderman shall be elected from each of the four wards of the city, as now laid out, and he shall be a resident of that ward, but all of the aldermen shall be voted for and elected by the voters of all wards of the city.

Any person elected by the city council removing from the city shall thereby vacate his office.

Before entering upon the duties of office, the mayor and aldermen shall take an oath to faithfully demean themselves in office, and perform the duties thereof. All vacancies in the council shall be filled by a vote of a majority of the remaining members thereof. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1907, ch. 502, § 1; Priv. Acts 1945, ch. 266, § 1; Priv. Acts 1947, ch. 206, § 1; Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1; and Priv. Acts 1978, ch. 269, § 1]

BIENNIAL ELECTIONS; QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTORS; QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES OF MAYOR

Sec. 3.  The mayor and aldermen of the City of Morristown shall be elected at the regular election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of 1968, for terms to expire on the second Monday in May of 1971.

Beginning in the year 1979, the aldermen representing the second and fourth wards and the Mayor shall be elected at elections to be held on the first Tuesday for four year terms which expire on the second Monday of May, 1983, and the second Monday of each fourth year thereafter. At the 1979 election, the aldermen representing the first and third wards shall be elected for two-year terms which expire on the second Monday of May, 1981.

Beginning in the year 1981, the two aldermen representing the first and third wards shall be elected at elections to be held on the first Tuesday in May for four year terms which expire on the second Monday of May, 1985 and the second Monday of each fourth year thereafter.

Every person entitled to vote for members of the General Assembly by the laws of the state and who shall have been a bona fide resident within the corporate limits for thirty days next preceding the election shall be entitled to vote therein. All residents of the corporation liable for municipal poll taxes shall, as a condition precedent to their right to vote in said election, have paid their municipal poll tax for the year of and the year next preceding said election thirty days before the date of said election, and their state and county poll tax for the year next preceding said election thirty days before the date thereof.

Nonresidents holding a freehold within the corporate limits of an assessed valuation of one hundred dollars or other property subject to corporation taxes amounting to one hundred dollars or over, shall be entitled to vote at said election. Said election shall be held as now provided by the laws of the State of Tennessee for such elections.

No person shall be elected mayor who is not at the time of his election a citizen of the State of Tennessee, and a bona fide resident of the city. When two or more shall have an equal number of votes for the office of mayor, the election shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the council-elect. A vacancy in the office of mayor shall be filled in the same manner. The mayor may fill all vacancies occurring in any offices, except that of alderman, until the same be filled by election. It shall be the duty of the mayor to preside at all meetings of the council; to see that all the ordinances of the city are duly enforced, respected and observed within the city; to take an oath of office before he enters upon the duties of the same and to call special sessions of the council when he may deem it expedient. The mayor shall be entitled to a vote upon all matters before the council the same as an alderman, whether there be a tie or not, but shall not be entitled to vote as mayor and an additional vote as presiding officer. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1915, ch. 84, § 3; Priv. Acts 1917, ch. 640, § 1; Priv. Acts 1941, ch. 527, § 1; Priv. Acts 1963, ch. 112; Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, §§ 1, 2; and Priv. Acts 1978, ch. 269, § 2]

APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, ETC.; CITY ADMINISTRATOR

Sec. 4.  The city council shall have full power and authority to appoint all officers, servants and agents of the corporation, such as they may deem necessary and provide by ordinance. They shall also fix the compensation of such officers before their election, which shall not be increased or diminished during their continuance in office.

They shall also have power to dismiss any officer, servant or agent, by them appointed, three-fifths of said council concurring in such dismission.

Or in the alternative, the council, by resolution, may appoint and fix the salary of the city administrator, who shall serve at the pleasure of the council, except that he may be removed during his first year in office only for incompetence or neglect of duty. He shall be appointed solely on basis of his executive and administrative qualifications, without regard to his political affiliations or place of residence, but during his tenure in office may reside outside the city only with the consent of the council. He shall give his full time to the office unless otherwise provided by resolution. The council may remove the city administrator only after adopting a preliminary resolution stating the reasons for his proposed removal, which shall be published once in the official city newspaper. If within five days after such publication the city administrator delivers to the mayor a written request for a hearing, a public hearing shall be held within ten to twenty days after publication of the preliminary resolution, to consider any written or oral statement he wishes to make, in person or through counsel. After following this procedure, and after the public hearing, if one be held, the council may adopt a final resolution of removal from which there shall be no appeal. The preliminary resolution may suspend the city administrator from duty, but in any event he shall be paid his regular salary until the time of adoption of the final resolution or removal. The council may, and if the council does not, the city administrator shall, designate a person to act as city administrator during his absence or inability to act. An acting city administrator may be appointed by the council to fill a vacancy in the office for not to exceed one year, who may be removed by the council at any time without regard to the procedure prescribed in this section for removal of the city administrator.

The city administrator shall be the executive head of the city government, responsible to the council for the efficient, orderly and business-like administration of the city's affairs. He shall be responsible for the enforcement of laws, rules and regulations, ordinances and franchises of the city, and the city attorney shall take such legal actions as the city administrator may direct for such purposes. The city administrator shall have authority to appoint, promote, demote, transfer, suspend and remove all department heads and employees and to direct and control their work, except as otherwise provided in this Act. He shall attend all meetings of the council when possible to do so and may participate in the discussions of the council, but shall have no vote. He shall submit to the council annual budgets, reports and such other information as he may deem necessary or that the council may require. He shall have authority to make allotments of funds within the limits of appropriations and no expenditure shall be made without his approval. He shall act as purchasing agent for the city. He may conduct inquiries and investigations into the conduct of the city's affairs and shall have such other powers and duties as may be provided by ordinances not inconsistent with this Act. All acts performed by the city administrator pursuant to the authority granted by this section shall be subject to review by the city council, and any authority granted to the city administrator by this section 4 may be enlarged or diminished, three-fifths of said council concurring in such action.

Nothing herein is to be construed to affect or interfere with the changes in the City Charter wrought by Priv. Acts 1955, ch. 370, entitled "An Act to Create the Civil Service Commission for the Town of Morristown". [As amended by Priv. Acts 1961, ch. 41, § 1; Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1; Priv. Acts 1971, ch. 128, §§ 1, 2; Priv. Acts 1972, ch. 207, § 1; and Priv. Acts 1984, ch. 214, § 2]

POWERS OF CITY GENERALLY

Sec. 5.  (1) Assessment, collection, etc., of property taxes; tax assessor. Said city council shall have power within the corporation to levy, assess and collect taxes for municipal purposes upon property within said municipality, or otherwise liable therefor, taxable by law, for state purposes, and said assessments shall be made by corporation assessors, elected by the said city council.

For this purpose, the office of tax assessor of said municipality is hereby created, which said office shall be filled by a majority vote of the city council each year, and his term of office shall continue only until December thirty-first of the year during which he is elected.

Said tax assessor shall be twenty-one years of age. He shall receive for his services a sum not exceeding thirty-six hundred dollars, nor less than five hundred dollars a term, the amount of such compensation, within said limits, and the time of its payment to be fixed by resolution of the city council.

Before entering upon his duties, the tax assessor shall execute a bond with solvent sureties payable to the municipality, in the penalty of five hundred dollars, conditioned that he will faithfully perform the duties of his office. Such bond shall be approved by the mayor and entered of record as all other bonds; and he shall take the same oath of office applicable to the municipality as does the county tax assessor under the laws of the state.

Said tax assessor shall assess the real estate, personal property, privileges, and polls subject to municipal taxation, as of January tenth of the year of his election. Immediately after said date, or as soon thereafter as he shall have been elected and shall have qualified, the tax assessor shall begin the assessment of property, and shall continue his work with all possible dispatch so as to complete said assessment, make out the assessment roll and file his report with city council at the earliest possible moment. The municipal taxes for the year for which the assessment is made shall be levied on the basis of such assessment, subject to review by the board of equalization, as now provided.

(2) Taxes on privileges and polls. To levy and collect taxes upon all privileges and polls, taxable by the laws of the state.

(3) Appropriations and expenditures. To appropriate money and provide for the payment of the debts and expenses of the city and to appropriate money for charitable uses and purposes, and provide by ordinance for the expenditure of the same, and, if necessary, to levy a special tax for such charitable uses and purposes. The fiscal year of the city shall begin on the first day of July and end on the last day of June.

(4) Contagious disease control. To make regulations to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases in the city; to make quarantine laws for the purpose, and to enforce the same within five miles of the city.

(5) Schools. To establish a system of free schools within the city and by proceedings accruing to the general law of the land condemn property within the municipality for school and corporate purposes.

(6) General health; nuisances; vagrancy. To make regulations to secure the general health of the inhabitants and to prevent and remove nuisances; to regulate and suppress vagrancy.

(7) Open, vacate, pave, etc., streets and sidewalks. To open, alter, abolish, widen, extend, establish, grade, pave or otherwise improve, clean and keep in repair streets, alleys and sidewalks, or to have the same done, and to grant privileges and franchises in the use of the same.

(8) Nightwatch and patrol. To establish, support and regulate a nightwatch and patrol.

(9) Market. To erect a market house, establish a market and regulate the same.

(10) Public buildings. To provide for the erection of all buildings necessary for the use of the city, including jail and calaboose.

(11) Licensing and regulation of occupations and vehicles for hire. To license, tax and regulate all occupations which are now or hereafter may be declared to be privileged occupations by the laws of the state; to license, tax and regulate automobiles, automobile trucks, automobile passenger busses, and taxicabs, carts, omnibuses, cabs, wagons, drays, motorcycles, and all other vehicles; to fix the rate to be charged for the carriage of persons and property by any vehicles held out to the public use for hire within the city, and to require indemnity bonds in surety companies or indemnity insurance policies to be filed with the city by the owner or operator of any such vehicle, for the protection of the city or any person against loss by injury to persons or property; to make all needful rules and regulations of the government of such conveyance, and to provide where such conveyances may be parked, and fix the starting and stopping point, within the city, of such vehicles, whether same are to be operated wholly within the city or from a point in the city to points outside, and whether the same be operated along fixed routes and according to fixed schedules or along different routes and without schedules; to designate the streets over and along which automobiles and other vehicles used for the purpose of affording street transportation may be operated, and to fix the rate to be charged for transportation of passengers.

(12) Repealed by Priv. Acts 1925, ch. 598, § 1.

(13) Amusements, shows, exhibitions, etc. To license, tax and regulate and suppress theatrical and other exhibitions, shows or amusements.

(14) Disorderly houses and bawdy houses. To regulate or prohibit and suppress all disorderly houses and bawdyhouses.

(15) Fire protection. To regulate or prohibit the use of lights, candles and stove pipes in all stables, shops and other places.

(16) Weights and measures. To establish weights and measures, and regulate the weights and measures to be used in the city, in all cases not otherwise provided for by law.

(17) Inspection and weighing of stone, fuel and grain. To provide for the inspection and weighing or measuring of stone, coal, wood and other fuel, hay, corn and other grain.

(18) Inspection of food and drink. To provide for and regulate the inspection of beef, pork, flour, meal, oils, whiskey and other spirits, in barrels or hogsheads, and other vessels.

(19) Inspection of lard, butter, etc.; regulation of vending of meats and vegetables; suppression of hucksters. To regulate the inspection of lard, butter and other provisions; to regulate the vending of meats, poultry, fish and vegetables; to restrain and punish the forestalling of provisions; and to suppress hucksters.

(20) Appointment of police; imposition of penalties for violations of ordinances; city judge; appeals from convictions. To appoint and regulate the police of the city; to impose fines, forfeitures and penalties for the breach of any ordinance, and to provide for their recovery and appropriation and such recovery may be had before the mayor or before the city judge, who shall be appointed by the city council as hereinafter provided, and who shall be a citizen of the city and an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee, with jurisdiction in either of said officers to issue warrants, render judgments, issue executions and such other process as may be necessary for the enforcement of fines, forfeitures and penalties for the violation of ordinances of said corporation; and any person against whom a judgment has been rendered by the mayor or city judge, for violation of any of the ordinances of the city, may within ten (10) days thereafter, appeal to the Circuit Court of Hamblen County, Tennessee, upon giving bond and security in the sum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for his appearance at the next term of said court to be held thereafter, conditioned according to the terms of appearance bonds required by law in criminal cases.

The office of city judge is hereby created and said judge shall be appointed for such terms and paid such salary as established by the city council through ordinance.

(21) Riotous and disorderly persons. To provide for the arrest and confinement until trial of all riotous and disorderly persons within the corporation, by day or by night; to authorize the arrest of all suspicious persons found violating any ordinance of the city.

(22) Breach of the peace; disorderly assemblies. To prevent and punish, by pecuniary penalties, all breaches of the peace, noise, disturbances, or disorderly assemblies in any street, house or place in the city by day or by night.

(23) Encroachments on streets, etc. To prevent and remove all encroachments into and upon all streets, lanes, alleys and avenues established by law or ordinance.

(23a) Zoning. To regulate by ordinance the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot which may be occupied, size of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the uses of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residences, recreation, public activities, and other purposes, and to create and appoint a city planning commission in connection with said corporate power and authority, and to this end, said municipality is granted all the rights, powers, and authority which are granted to municipalities generally by Chapter 34 of the Public Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee for the year 1935, and by Chapter 44 of the Public Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee for the year 1935, and by Chapter 74 of the Public Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee for the year 1945.

(24) Obstructions on sidewalks; repair and cleaning of sidewalks and curbstones. To remove all obstructions from the sidewalks, and to provide for the construction and repair of all sidewalks and curbstones, and for cleaning the same.

(24a) Airport. To establish, operate and regulate a municipal airport, within or without the corporate limits of said municipal corporation, and to this end said municipality is granted all of the rights, powers, and authority as is granted to municipalities generally by Chapter 74 of the Public Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee for the year 1931, as amended, being an Act entitled, "An Act to authorize Counties and Municipalities, jointly and separately, to establish and maintain airports, to authorize Counties and Municipalities to regulate such airports, and to confer upon the Counties and Municipalities the power to acquire by condemnation lands necessary for such airport".

(24b) Off-street parking facilities. To establish off-street parking facilities for vehicles within the corporate limits of the city; to regulate the operation of the same by ordinance expressly including the power to establish if deemed necessary, charges to be paid for the use thereof; to expend corporate funds for that purpose; and to exercise the power of eminent domain to carry out the intent and purpose of this subsection.

(25) Alcoholic beverages. To prohibit by ordinance the sale by retail for beverage purposes, or the giving away for beverage purposes, of intoxicating liquors, including ale, wine, and beer, within the limits of such corporation, and to provide by ordinance suitable penalties for the violation of such ordinance, and to prevent the sale or giving such liquors to minors, within the limits of such corporation, and to provide suitable penalties for violation of same.

(26) Ordinances generally; meetings of city council. To pass all ordinances not contrary to the Constitution and laws of the state that may be necessary to carry out the full intent and meaning of this Act, and to accomplish the object of their incorporation. And this shall expressly include the power to fix, by ordinance, the date and hour of regular meetings of the city council; provided, that all such meetings shall be in the City Hall; and further provided, that there shall be two regular meetings each calendar month, the same to be two weeks apart.

(27) Sewer connections; authority to prohibit cesspools, privies, etc. That said city council is hereby empowered by ordinance to compel the owners of real estate fronting on, contiguous to, or bounded by any street or streets of said city, in which street or streets are lain water mains and sanitary sewers, to connect such surface closets or privies as may be maintained on said premises with said sanitary sewer, and to provide the flushing and cleansing of said closets and privies.

Said city council is further authorized and empowered to prohibit by ordinance, the maintenance of any cesspool, surface closet or privy on any premises fronting on, contiguous to, or bounded by any street or streets of said city in which street or streets are lain water mains and sanitary sewers.

Said city council is further authorized to fix by ordinance the time within which connections shall be made with sanitary sewers as above indicated, after notice so to do has been given, and shall have the right to determine and fix by ordinance the character of notice to be given and to prescribe the penalty for failure to observe and comply with said notice and are expressly authorized to take all necessary steps to enforce the discontinuance and removal of said cesspools, surface closets and privies within the limits and boundaries above set out.

Said city council is further authorized and empowered to declare the maintenance of cesspools, surface closets and privies within said districts above indicated, a public nuisance, and shall have the right to abate same in the manner provided by law, and particularly shall have the right to enjoin the continuance and maintenance of same.

(27a) Inoculation of dogs. To pass ordinances requiring owners and other persons having the custody of dogs within the corporate limits of the city, to have such dogs inoculated so as to render them immune from rabies.

(28) Milk and dairy products. That said city council is hereby authorized and empowered to pass such ordinances as may be necessary for the proper inspection and regulation of the sale of milk and dairy products within the corporate limits, and to this end shall have the right to pass all necessary ordinances for the inspection of said milk and testing of dairy cows, the milk from which is sold within the corporate limits of said city, and shall have the right, by ordinance, to make all necessary rules and regulations covering the proper inspection of said milk and dairy products.

To insure the inhabitants of said city against unclean, impure and/or unwholesome milk and milk products, the city council shall have full power and authority to make and enforce regulations relative to the production, handling and manner of sale of milk and milk products sold in said city, regardless of where same is produced; to provide for all necessary inspections and examinations, and to charge the producer or vendor an inspection fee or fees, for the use of said city.

(29) Tax collector, records custodian. The office of tax collector and records custodian shall be filled by the city administrator, or in the event there be no city administrator, by the mayor. The city administrator or mayor, as the case may be, shall give a separate bond as records custodian, in an amount fixed by the city council, conditioned, to safely keep the records of the municipality, and to account for all monies received by said office as records custodian, and shall give another bond as tax collector of said municipality, the penalty thereof, to be fixed by the city council, which bond shall be conditioned to faithfully account for, and pay over to the proper parties, all monies received by him as tax collector for the municipality; said bond shall be approved by the city council and be entered of record in the minute book of the municipality.

Said officer shall collect all taxes of every kind and character due the municipality, and shall make reports to the city council as directed by it covering the receipt and disbursements of his office, showing the financial condition of the city.

He shall collect all taxes of every kind and character, due the said municipality, and shall make semiannual reports to the city council covering the receipt and disbursements of his office, showing the financial condition of the city. Said recorder and tax collector shall devote his time and attention to the performance of his duties, to the end that said duties shall be properly and efficiently performed. No other business of any kind, either public or private, except that pertaining to the municipality shall be carried on by him in said municipal building.

(30) [The provisions set forth in this unofficial subsection were repealed by Priv. Acts 1980, ch. 196, § 1]

(31) Payment of salaries of city officers. The salaries of all officers of the municipality, whether herein provided for to be elected by the qualified voters of the municipality, or otherwise, shall be payable monthly, at the end of each month.

(32) Railroads--Construction of bridges, overpasses, etc. To require and compel any steam railroad company operating within the corporate limits and crossing with its lines any of the streets of the city, to build, construct and maintain all necessary bridges, viaducts and passes over and under the tracks of the said steam railroad, wherever said track or tracks cross the public streets and thoroughfares of the city, when in the judgment of the legislative body of said city, such bridge, viaduct or underpass should be built or constructed for the preservation and protection of the public using such streets and thoroughfares. The entire cost of so constructing such bridge, viaduct or underpass, together with the proper and necessary approaches thereto, shall be borne and paid one-half by the persons, firm or corporation owning and maintaining and operating such steam railroad, and one-half by the city.

(33) Same--Watchmen or signals at crossings. To require and compel any steam railroad company operating within said city and crossing with its lines any of the streets of the city, to, at its own cost and expense, erect gates, or place and maintain watchmen, or install other proper and necessary warning signals at said railroad crossing, when in the judgment of the legislative body of said city such gates, watchmen or other warning signals should be built or constructed or established for the preservation and protection of the public using such streets and thoroughfares.

(34) Parking spaces for vehicles for hire, emergency vehicles and merchants' vehicles. It shall have power, in regulating the use of the streets of said city, to, by ordinance, designate and set apart parking space for taxicabs and other automobiles or vehicles used for hire; ambulances, automobiles, trucks or other vehicles of the police and fire departments, of said municipality, as well as trucks and vehicles used by merchants, and regulate the use thereof for certain specific purposes, for which use, in the discretion of the council, it may charge a reasonable fee. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1915, ch. 84, §§ 1, 2, 4; Priv. Acts 1917, ch. 543, § 2; Priv. Acts 1921, ch. 616, §§ 1, 2, 3, 5, 6; Priv. Acts 1925, ch. 598, §§ 1, 2; Priv. Acts 1927, ch. 792; Priv. Acts 1929, ch. 581, §§ 1, 2, 3; Priv. Acts 1929, ch. 718, § 1; Priv. Acts 1931, ch. 158, § 1; Priv. Acts 1931, ch. 296, §1; Priv. Acts 1935, ch. 24, § 2; Priv. Acts 1947, ch. 206, §§ 3, 4; Priv. Acts 1949, ch. 297, § 1; and Priv. Acts 1949 ch. 298, § 1; Priv. Acts 1953, ch. 72, § 1; Priv. Acts 1953, ch. 73, § 1; Priv. Acts 1953, ch. 74, § 1; Priv. Acts 1953, ch. 565, § 1; Priv. Acts 1959, ch. 247, § 1; Priv. Acts 1965, ch. 283, § 1; Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, §§ 1, 3, 4; Priv. Acts 1972, ch. 207, § 2; Priv. Acts 1977, ch. 7, § 1; Priv. Acts 1978, ch. 256, § 1; and Priv. Acts 1984, ch. 214, § 3]

WORKHOUSE; WORKING OF CITY PRISONERS

Sec. 6.  The city council shall have power to erect and organize a workhouse within said corporation; and any person who shall fail or neglect to pay any fine or costs imposed upon him by any ordinance of the city, shall be committed to the workhouse until such fine and costs be fully paid, but said city council shall have, and is hereby vested with the power, if it so desires or deems it for the best interest of the municipality, to contract with the sheriff or workhouse commissioners or other proper authorities of Hamblen County, for the keeping of the corporation prisoners, and for working them on the public roads of the county or otherwise, as may be determined and agreed. Every person committed to the workhouse or other place of confinement, as provided by this act, shall be required to work for the city or for its benefit at such labor as his or her health and strength will permit within or without said workhouse, or other place of confinement, not exceeding ten hours per day, and for such work and labor the person employed shall be allowed, exclusive of his board, a credit of forty cents per day upon such fine and costs until the whole is discharged, when he or she shall be released.

Provided, that where corporation prisoners desire to work out their fine and costs and board themselves, and give bond with security for their appearance from day to day to work out their said fine and costs, they shall be allowed to do so, and shall be allowed a credit on their said fine and costs of sixty cents per day, when they so board themselves. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

AUTHORITY TO FIX DUE-DATE OF TAXES AND PENALTIES FOR NONPAYMENT OF SAME

Sec. 7.  Said city council is hereby empowered to fix by ordinance the time when taxes for municipal purposes shall be levied and assessed, when same shall be due and payable, the manner in which same shall be assessed and collected, and provide for interest and penalties on same for nonpayment when due. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

SIDEWALKS--AUTHORITY TO COMPEL PROPERTY OWNERS TO CONSTRUCT AND REPAIR

Sec. 8.  Said council of the City of Morristown is hereby empowered by ordinance to compel owners of real estate fronting on, contiguous to, or bounded by any street or streets of said city to lay, and, when lain, to keep in repair, and to repair pavements already lain along such street or streets, so as to establish, maintain, and keep in repair sidewalks or pavements along the streets of said city; and said city council is hereby empowered by ordinance to prescribe the materials out of which said sidewalks shall be constructed, or with which same shall be repaired, in the different parts of city, and are empowered to prescribe the manner and details of construction and repair, respectively. [As amended by Acts 1907, ch. 203, § 1; and Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

SAME--AUTHORITY OF CITY TO CONSTRUCT AND REPAIR WHEN PROPERTY OWNER FAILS TO DO SO

Sec. 9.  Upon failure of any such property holder, as is designated or contemplated in the foregoing section, to comply with such ordinance or ordinances as said city council is empowered to pass under same, said city council may, by ordinance, provide for notice to be given such real estate or property owner, requiring such sidewalks or pavements to be lain or repaired within such time as may be prescribed by ordinance, and if such property owner or holder fails to comply with same within the time prescribed by ordinance and notice, then said city council may lay or cause to be lain, repair or cause to be repaired, such pavement or sidewalk, and charge the expense of same to such property owner or holder, which shall be a lien upon such property, which may be enforced as may be provided by ordinance , and notice to the occupant of such property or to any agent having control of same shall be deemed sufficient notice to such property owner or holder. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

ORIGINAL MAYOR AND ALDERMEN

Sec. 10.  From the date of the passage of this Act, until the first Monday in January, 1905, the city council of said City of Morristown, shall be and consist of Ed. M. Grant, Mayor; John A. Rhea, E. J. Bettis, W. S. Myers, John B. McCord, J. W. Richardson and M. A. Goodson, Aldermen, or any successors that may be elected under the provisions of this Act, to fill any vacancies that may occur in said board by reason of the death, resignation or removal of any one or more of said mayor or aldermen.

Provided, also, that said city council above designated, shall remain in office until their successors are duly elected and installed. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TAXES, FINES, ETC., OWED TO PRIOR CORPORATION

Sec. 11.  All past due and uncollected taxes, levied and assessed by board of mayor and aldermen of the late corporation of Morristown, or their legally authorized agents and officers, and all fines, penalties and other assets of said former corporation, are hereby declared to be the property of the municipality hereby created, and shall be collected by the city council of the municipality hereby created by their officers and agents, and applied to the use and benefit of said municipality under the ordinances and orders of said city council. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

DATE OF ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY; LEVY OF TAXES

Sec. 12.  Said city council may cause an assessment of the property and polls within said municipality to be made as of January 10, 1903, and may levy such tax thereon as they may deem necessary for the purpose of sustaining the interests of said municipality. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

BOUNDARIES OF CITY

Sec. 13.  The corporate limits of said city shall be as follows:

Also, that property situated in the Fifth Civil District of Hamblen County, Tennessee, and more particularly described as follows:

DEBTS AND LIABILITIES OF FORMER CORPORATION

Sec. 14.  All and singular of the debts and liabilities of the former corporation of Morristown, Tennessee, whether evidenced by bonds, warrants or otherwise, are hereby declared to be valid and subsisting debts of the corporation of Morristown, created by this Act; and shall be provided for and paid according to the provisions of the laws and ordinances providing for the creation of such debts, and the city council herein provided for shall have full power and authority to carry out the provisions of this section. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

CONTINUATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Sec. 15.  All ordinances and resolutions of the former corporation of Morristown which were in force at the date of the abolishing of the charter of said former corporation are hereby declared to be in full force and effect as the ordinances and resolutions of the corporation created by this Act, until such time as the same shall be repealed, altered or modified by the authority of the city council of the corporation created by this Act. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

CONTINUATION OF FORMER OFFICERS

Sec. 16.  The officers and agents of the former corporation of Morristown are hereby declared to be officers and agents of the corporation created by this Act, until such time as they may be discharged or superseded by authority of the city council appointed by this Act. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

TRANSFER OF PROPERTY OF FORMER CORPORATION

Sec. 17.  All property, both real, personal and mixed, belonging to the late corporation of Morristown, is hereby declared to be the property of the corporation created by this Act.

CODIFICATION OF ORDINANCES--REQUIRED EVERY FIVE YEARS; ADMISSIBILITY AS EVIDENCE

Sec. 18.  There shall be prepared and published by the city council a digest or codification of all ordinances and resolutions of a public nature thereof every five years. Said digest or codification, when so published, shall show that it is published by authority of the corporate authorities, and it shall be received and read in all the courts of the state as evidence of the ordinances, resolutions and facts pertaining to the municipality and contained therein. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

SAME--CONTINUATION OF FORMER CODE

Sec. 19.  The last and present digest or codification of the ordinances and resolutions of a public nature of said municipality and published by the authority of the city council, are hereby declared to be the laws and ordinances of said city upon the matters touched upon therein, excepting such as have been repealed, altered or amended, since the publication thereof, and as such shall be received and read in evidence in all the courts of the state. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

ACTS SAVED FROM REPEAL

Sec. 20.  Nothing in this act shall be construed to repeal any of the Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee in force at the time or the repeal of the former Charter of incorporation of Morristown, which related to the waterworks and electric light plants or systems of said former corporation, but the same with all their provisions are hereby declared to be in full force and effect and shall apply to the corporation of Morristown created by this Act.

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND WATERWORKS SYSTEM

Sec. 20A.  Said municipality, "The City of Morristown", be, and hereby is given the power of eminent domain according to the law of the land and the laws and statutes of the State of Tennessee relative thereto, with full power, in accordance therewith, to condemn, for all municipal and corporate purposes, both within and outside the municipal boundaries, lands, and easements, including right of way for municipally owned electric light and waterworks system, either or both, grounds and sites for pumping stations and for the manufacture of electricity and for the manufacture and transmission of electricity either or both; water sites, springs, lands and grounds for the erection of all necessary plants for said purposes; also all necessary grounds and rights of way to and from streams, for water and manufacture of electric power, either or both; to erect, dig or prepare reservoirs for water; to build, enlarge and improve light and power stations alone or in connection with the waterworks system, and also, through itself, or its electric light and waterworks commissioners, according to existing laws, sell water and manufacture, transmit and sell electricity for all water, electric power and light purposes, to patrons and purchasers thereof within and without the municipality.

For all the foregoing purposes and agreeable to the laws of the land and the statutes applicable thereto, the power of eminent domain is conferred upon said municipality. [As added by Priv. Acts 1925, ch. 23, § 1; and Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

EFFECTIVE DATE; AUTHORITY TO EXTEND WATER AND LIGHT FACILITIES

Sec. 21.  This Act shall take effect from and after May 1, 1903, at 12 o'clock Noon, the public welfare requiring it.

The water and light commissioners of said city shall have the right, and are hereby given the authority, to extend the water and light facilities of the municipality beyond the corporate limits of the city to such points, and to such distances as, in the discretion of said commissioners, may be necessary and proper for the welfare, growth, and prosperity of the city, and to this end said water and light commissioners, and said municipal corporation are given the right and authority to acquire by purchase, or eminent domain proceedings, such land, right of way, or easements, as shall be necessary for the accomplishment of such extension; provided, no such extension shall be made until the city council has, by a majority vote, approved and ratified the plan of said commissioners to make said extension. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1947, ch. 206, § 2; and Priv. Acts 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

Passed February 12, 1903

Ed T. Seay,

Speaker of the Senate

L. D. Tyson,

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved March 13, 1903

James B. Frazier,

Governor

Private Acts 1927, Chapter 446

Private Acts 1955, Chapter 370

5. [DELETED.]

Private Acts 1901, Chapter 392

Private Acts 1907, Chapter 255

Division A. Zoning

Private Acts 1927, Chapter 446

AN ACT entitled an Act to amend Chapter 103 of the Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee for the year 1903 entitled "An Act to incorporate the Town of Morristown in Hamblen County, Tennessee."

LOCATION OF TRADES AND INDUSTRIES AND BUILDINGS DESIGNED FOR SPECIAL USES

Section 1.  Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That Chapter 103 of the Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, passed February 12th, 1903, approved March 13th, 1903, entitled, "An Act to incorporate the town of Morristown in Hamblen County, Tennessee," be so amended as to read as follows:

That the board of mayor and aldermen of the Town of Morristown may regulate and restrict by ordinance the location of trades and industries and the location of buildings designed for specified uses, and for said purposes, divide the municipality into districts or zones of such number, shape and area as may be deemed best suited to carry out the purposes of this section.

For each of such districts, regulations may be imposed by ordinance, designating the uses for which buildings may be or may not be erected or altered, and designating the trades and industries that shall be excluded or subjected to special regulations. Such regulations shall be in accordance with a place, designed to lessen congestion on public streets, to promote the public health, safety, convenience and general welfare, and shall be made with reasonable consideration, among other things, to the character of the district, its peculiar suitability for particular uses, the conservation of property values, and the direction of building development.

REGULATION OF HEIGHT AND BULK OF BUILDINGS AND PERCENTAGE OF LAND TO BE DEVOTED TO OPEN SPACES

Sec. 2.  Be it further enacted, That the board of mayor and aldermen may regulate by ordinance and limit the height and bulk of buildings hereafter erected or altered, and regulate and determine the percentage of land area to be devoted to yards, courts and other open spaces, and for said purposes, divide the municipality into districts of such number, shape and area as may be deemed best suited to carry out the purposes of this section. Such regulations shall be uniform for each class of buildings throughout each district, but the regulations in one or more districts may differ from those in other districts. Such regulations shall be designed to lessen congestion on the public streets, to secure safety from fires and other dangers, to promote the public health and welfare, including provisions for adequate light air and convenience of access, and shall be made with reasonable regard to the character of buildings erected in each district, the value of land and the use to which it may be put, to the end that such regulations will promote the public health, safety and welfare, the most desirable use for which the land of each district may be adopted, and tend to conserve the value of buildings and to stabilize the value of land throughout such districts.

AMENDMENT OF ZONING ORDINANCE

Sec. 3.  Be it further enacted, That after the final adoption of regulations by ordinance setting out the boundaries of districts or zones and the regulations to be enforced therein, the mayor and aldermen may, from time to time, amend, supplement or change by ordinance the boundaries or regulations so adopted. Notice of the adoption of such amendment, supplement or change in the ordinance shall be given by publishing such notice three times in some daily newspaper of general circulation in such municipality. Such notice shall state the time and place, not earlier than ten days from the last date of publication, at which the mayor and aldermen of the Town of Morristown shall meet to hear remonstrances or protests against the making of such amendment, supplement or change. At the time and place thus appointed, the mayor and aldermen shall meet and all persons whose property will be affected by such amendment, supplement or change, may appear in person or by attorney or by petition, and protest against making of such amendment, supplement or change, and after hearing such protests, if any, said legislative body may confirm, modify, or rescind such ordinance in whole or in part. If, however, a protest against such amendment, supplement or change be presented in writing to city administrator or mayor within ten days from date of last publication, duly signed and acknowledged by the owners of twenty per cent or more of any frontage proposed to be altered, or by the owners of twenty per cent of the frontage immediately in the rear thereof, or by the owners of twenty per cent of the frontage directly opposite the frontage proposed to be altered, such amendment, supplement or change shall not be passed except by a four-fifths vote of the board of mayor and aldermen. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1984, ch. 214, § 1]

NONCONFORMING BUILDINGS AND USES

Sec. 4.  Be it further enacted, That the lawful use of a building existing at the time of adoption of an ordinance under the provisions of this Act, although such use does not conform to the provisions of such ordinance, may be extended throughout the life of the building, provided no structural alterations except those required by law or ordinance are made therein.

Where no structural alterations are made in a building of a nonconforming use, such use may be changed to a use of a similar or higher classification, according to the provisions of ordinances and regulations adopted under the authority of this Act.

The lawful use of a premises existing at the time of adoption of an ordinance under the provisions of this Act, although such use does not conform to the provisions of such ordinance, may be continued; but if such nonconforming use is discontinued, any future use of said premises shall be in conformity with the provisions of ordinances and regulations adopted under the authority this Act.

Where structural alterations are made in a building of nonconforming use, such building shall be changed in conformity with the provisions of ordinances and regulations adopted under the authority of this Act, for the district in which such building is located. When the boundary line of any such district divides a parcel of ground in common ownership, at the time of the adoption of the ordinance, under the provisions of this Act, nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the extension of the use existing on either portion of such parcel of ground, to the entire parcel but for a distance of not greater than twenty-five feet.

Nothing in this Act shall be taken to prevent the restoration of a building destroyed to the extent of not more than seventy-five per cent of its reasonable value, by fire, explosion, an act of God or the public enemy, and the occupancy or use of such building or part thereof, if such use existed at the time of such partial destruction, or the restoration of a wall declared unsafe by the building inspector.

SEVERABILITY OF ACT

Sec. 5.  Be it further enacted, That should any section or provision of this Act be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of the Act as a whole or any part thereof, other than the part so held to be unconstitutional.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Sec. 6.  Be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.

Passed April 14, 1927.

Approved by Governor April 22, 1927.

Division B. Civil Service for Fire and Police Departments

Private Acts 1955, Chapter 370

CIVIL SERVICE BOARD CREATED; MEMBERSHIP; APPOINTMENT, TERM OF OFFICE, SALARY, QUALIFICATIONS AND REMOVAL OF MEMBERS; NOTICE OF MEETINGS; QUORUM

Section 1(a).  There is hereby created a system of civil service for the City of Morristown. A civil service board, shall consist of three members and shall administer the system of civil service. One (1) member of such board shall be elected by the governing body or the city or Morristown and one (1) member shall be elected by the members of the classified service, i.e., members of the fire department, members of the police department, in a joint election. Such member shall receive a majority of the votes of the members of the classified service. The member selected by the governing body of the City of Morristown and the member selected by majority vote of the classified service shall then select the third member of the Board within ten (10) days after such members' appointment and selection. Provided, that if the two (2) members appointed and selected shall fail to agree relative to the third board member within ten (10) days after their appointment, the governing body of the City of Morristown shall appoint four (4) citizens to meet and confer with four (4) other citizens appointed by the members of the classified service. This joint committee of eight (8) shall meet, within ten (10) days, and appoint a person who shall serve as the third member of the Board.

PERSONS SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE

Sec. 2. The provisions of this act shall apply to (a) all full-time law enforcement officers certified as such by the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission and (b) all full-time fire department personnel holding the classification of firefighter driver, inspector, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, and assistant or deputy chief in the City of Morristown. The chiefs of the police and fire departments may be hired directly by the city governing body without approval of the Civil Service board. The chiefs shall not be members of the classified service except to the extent that a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the governing body shall be required to dismiss, suspend or demote the chief of either department, which action shall not be reviewable by the Board. All such persons shall be known as the classified service. All other city employees shall be known as the unclassified or civilian service. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487 § 1, and replaced by Priv. Acts of 1994, ch. 143, § 2]

APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS

Sec. 3.  All future appointments to and promotions in such departments, except as otherwise provided in this act, shall be made on the basis of filling the position with the best qualified candidate, using the following methods:

Subject to the standards set forth in this act, the city governing body shall meet with the Board and formulate minimum requirements and weighted selection criteria for each position in the classified service. As soon as possible, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the passage of this act, the city and the Board shall jointly adopt minimum requirements and weighted selection criteria, the latter of which shall include percentage allocations for at least the following: Seniority, experience, training, testing, education, record of conduct and recommendations of the chiefs of the respective departments. If the city governing body and the Board are unable to agree upon such minimum requirements and weighted selection criteria, the city administrator, chairman of the civil service board and a person designated by the director of the municipal technical advisory service shall adopt such requirements and criteria by affirmative vote of two (2) of the three (3) persons so designated, and certify such vote in writing to the city and board. Such requirements and selection criteria shall immediately become effective. Standards, when set, shall remain in effect until altered by joint action of the city and board. After the enunciation of such standards, a roster shall be kept by the board of all full-time personnel in the classified service indicating what job classifications within each respective departments such personnel are eligible to fill. A roster shall also be kept on all applicants to become members of the classified service with appropriate indication of what job classifications such applicants are eligible to fill.

After the enunciation of such standards, no vacancy shall be filled except by a person on the roster of persons having the requisite qualifications to fill such vacancy.

If any vacancy shall occur within any branch of the classified service, the vacancy shall be offered first to that member of the such branch qualified on the roster who shall be the best qualified. In determining who is best qualified, the city governing body shall consider seniority, experience, training, testing, education, record of conduct, and recommendations of the chiefs of the respective departments. No person shall be reinstated in, or transferred, suspended or discharged from any place, position or employment in the classified service contrary to the provisions of this act. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487, § 1, and replaced by Priv. Acts of 1994, ch. 143, § 3]

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF CIVIL SERVICE BOARD; OFFICERS OF BOARD; MEETINGS OF BOARD

Sec. 4.  Be it further enacted. The board shall organize by forthwith electing one of its members as chairman and shall hold regular meetings at least once a month, and such additional meetings as may be required for the proper discharge of its duties, not to exceed three days in any one month.

The board shall appoint a secretary who shall keep its records, preserve all reports made to it, superintend and keep a record of all examinations and perform such other duties as the board may prescribe.

It shall be the duty of the board:

(a) To make suitable rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act. Such rules and regulations shall provide in detail the manner in which examinations may be held and appointments, promotions, transfers, demotions, reinstatements, suspensions and discharges shall be made, and may also provide for any other matters connected with the general subject of personnel administration; such rules and regulations shall include the methods used in determining the standard for each job classification in the classified service. These rules and regulations may be changed from time to time by the board and shall be printed or mimeographed for free public distribution.

(b) The rules and regulations shall include provisions so that seniority may not be lost by any person holding a position in the classified service, if such person leaves the classified service to enter the military service of the United States, provided that such person returns to the classified service within six months following his honorable discharge from such service. In such cases the period of military service shall be included in the period of seniority of such person.

(c) The board shall make investigations and report upon all matters touching the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this Act, and the rules and regulations prescribed hereunder, inspect all institutions and employment affected by this Act, and ascertain whether the Act and all such rules and regulations are being obeyed. Such investigations shall be made by the board on its own motion and must also be made on petition of any citizen duly verified stating that irregularities or abuses exist, or setting forth in writing the necessity for such investigation. In the course of such investigation, the board shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses, and require the production of books, papers, documents and accounts appertaining to the investigation. The failure upon the part of any person to comply with such subpoena or demand shall be a violation of this Act and be punishable as such.

(d) All hearings and investigations before the board shall be governed by this Act and by the rules of practice and procedure to be adopted by the board. The board, or its designated hearing officer, shall not be bound by technical rules of evidence. No formality in any procedure or hearing shall invalidate any order, decision, rule or regulation made or approved by the board; provided, however, that no decision shall be binding unless concurred in by at least two of the board members.

(e) To hear and determine appeals or complaints relative to the allocation of positions, the determination of job changes, the furnishings of rosters and the position of members of the classified service, and of applicants on such rosters, and such other matters relating to the administration of this Act as may be referred to the board.

(f) To see that the job classifications, the standard for filling said classifications and the roster of eligible appointees for each classification are kept continuously up to date, and posted in the respective departments of the classified service. Said rosters shall show name, rank and number in their proper order by reason of seniority established by continuous service in the respective departments. Terms of leaves of absence granted by the board hereby created upon recommendation of the chief of each department shall not forfeit the rights of the member granted leave under this Act nor be charged against such member in his order of seniority.

(g) To make provisions that men laid off because of curtailment of expenditures, reduction in force, and for like causes, shall be the last man, or men, including probationers, that have been appointed to the respective department of the classified service. Rules and regulations shall provide that men so laid off shall be reinstated before any new appointments to said department shall be made.

(h) To keep the appointing authority notified of the person highest on each eligible list for appointment to each vacancy that may occur.

(i) To keep such records as maybe necessary for the proper administration of this Act. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487, § 1, and amended by Priv. Acts of 1994, ch. 143, §§ 4 and 5]

DELETED

Sec. 5.  This section was deleted in its entirety by Priv. Acts of 1994, ch. 143, § 6.

QUALIFICATION Of APPLICANTS

Sec. 6.  Be it further enacted.

(a) Citizenship. An applicant for a civil service position of any kind under the classified service must be a citizen of the United States, who can read and write the English language.

(b) Character and fitness. Every applicant for a position in the classified service must, in addition to such minimum standards as are stated by the board, also be of ordinary good health, of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits; these facts to be ascertained in such manner as the board may deem advisable.

TENURE OF OFFICE; GROUNDS FOR DEMOTION, SUSPENSION OR DISCHARGE

Sec. 7.  Be it further enacted. The tenure of everyone holding office, place, position or employment under the provisions of this Act shall be for and only during good behavior. Any such person may be removed or discharged, suspended without pay, demoted or reduced in rank, or deprived of vacation privileges or other special privileges for any of the following reasons, but for no other reasons:

(a) Dishonesty, intemperance, immoral conduct, insubordination, or any other act of omission or commission tending to injure the public service; or any other willful failure on the part of the employee to conduct himself properly; or any willful violation of the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations to be adopted hereunder.

(b) Conviction of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or a misdemeanor reflecting upon ability to perform public service or one for which a jail sentence is or may be imposed.

(c) Any other act or failure to act which, in the judgment of the board, is sufficient to show the offender to be an unsuitable and unfit person to be employed in the classified service.

REMOVAL OF MEMBERS FROM CIVIL SERVICE

Sec. 8. (a) No person in the classified civil service who shall have been permanently appointed or inducted into civil service under the provisions of this act shall be removed, suspended or discharged except for cause, and only upon the written accusation of the appointing power, or any citizen or taxpayer, a written statement of which accusation shall be served upon the accused, and a duplicate filed with the Board. The chief of the fire department or the chief of the police department may suspend a member of the department pending the confirmation of the suspension by the regular appointing power under this act which must be within twenty-one (21) days. Any person so removed, suspended or discharged may within twenty (20) days from the time of his removal, suspension or discharge file with the Board a written demand for an investigation, whereupon the Board shall conduct such investigation.

(b) The investigation shall be confined to the determination of whether such removal, suspension or discharge was or was not made for political reasons and was or was not made in good faith for cause. After such investigation, the Board shall deliberate and may affirm the action taken, or if it shall find that the removal or suspension was made for political reasons, or was not made in good faith for cause, shall order the immediate reinstatement or reemployment of such person in the office, place, position or employment from which such person was removed, suspended or discharged, which reinstatement shall, if the Board so provides in its discretion, be retroactive, and entitle such person to pay or compensation from the time of such removal, suspension or discharge. The findings of the Board shall be certified in writing to the appointing power and shall be forthwith enforced by such authority.

(c) All investigations made by the Board pursuant to this section shall be by public hearing, after reasonable notice to the accused of the time and place of such hearing, at which hearing the accused shall be afforded the opportunity to appear in person with counsel or by counsel and to present a defense. At any such hearing the testimony of all witnesses shall be taken in writing and a record shall be made of all proceedings. [As replaced by Priv. Acts of 1996, ch. 143, § 7]

DUTY OF CITY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES TO ASSIST BOARD

Sec. 9.  (a) It shall be the duty of all officers and employees of the City of Morristown to carry out the provisions of this act, and such rules and regulations consistent with this act, as may, from time to time be prescribed by the board and to afford the Board, its members and employees, all reasonable facilities and assistance in the inspection of all books, papers, documents and accounts applying or in any way appertaining to any and all offices, places, positions, papers, documents and accounts relevant to the duties of the board. It shall be the duty of such officers and employees to attend and testify whenever required by the Board or any member thereof.

(b) The board shall not promulgate any rule or regulation under authority of the act or make any appointments or promotions which are inconsistent with any state or federal guidelines or standards, or inconsistent with any rules or regulations of the appropriate accreditation agencies which certify or accredit the police and fire departments of the city pursuant to state or federal law or the standards required of a nongovernmental agency which have been accepted by the city governing body. If a rule or regulation of the Board appears to the city governing body to be inconsistent with such standards, the city shall submit the question to the applicable agency, if any, promulgating such standards for an opinion relative to the apparent inconsistency. Such opinion, if received within ninety (90) days of submission in writing from such agency shall be final and binding upon the city and board. Otherwise, the city governing body, in its sole discretion, shall determine if such rules or regulations are inconsistent with such standards, and in the event such determination is in the affirmative, the rule or regulation shall be void, upon duly adopted resolution of the city. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487, § 1, and replaced by Priv. Acts of 1994, ch. 143, § 8]

CERTIFICATION OF NAMES FOR VACANCIES; ELIGIBLE LISTS; PROBATIONARY EMPLOYMENT

Sec. 10.  (a) When a position in the classified service becomes vacant, whether entry level or promotional, the governing body of the City of Morristown shall make requisition upon the board for the names of three (3) persons eligible for appointment. The board shall certify the names of the three (3) persons highest on the eligible list willing to accept employment.

(b) In the event of two (2) or more promotional vacancies for the same position, two (2) additional names shall be certified for each such additional vacancy.

(c) Promotional appointees shall serve on probation during the first six (6) months of employment, and may be transferred back to such appointee's former position for good cause by the governing body, in its discretion. Such action shall not be reviewable by the Board. In such event, the employee shall re-qualify for the promotional roster before being eligible for promotion.

(d) Whenever a requisition is to be made, or whenever a position is held by a temporary appointee and an eligible list for the class of such position exists, the governing body shall appoint a person from among the persons so certified for such position.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the chiefs of the respective departments with the approval of the governing body shall be empowered, upon proper certification by the Board of the eligibility of a new (non-classified service) applicant for a position in the classified service, to appoint such person to such position for a period of six (6) months, during which time such applicant shall be on probation and subject to removal for just cause shown at any time during such six (6) month period. If the governing body in its discretion deems such person on probation unfit and unsatisfactory for such position, such person on probation may be dismissed. Any action taken by such governing body with respect to the dismissed applicant or probationer shall not be reviewable by the Board. In the event of dismissal of such applicant or probationer for reasons satisfactory to the governing body or the City of Morristown, the Board shall again certify the names of the persons on the eligible list as the same shall appear from the records of the Board.

(f) The chiefs of the respective departments may make lateral assignments of personnel. A lateral assignment shall be an assignment which is not accompanied by changes in wages, clothing allowance, vacation accrual, sick leave accrual or incentive pay. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487, § 1, and as replaced by Priv. Acts 1994, ch. 143, § 9]

LEAVE OF ABSENCE WITHOUT PAY

Sec. 11.  Be it further enacted. Leave of absence, without pay, may be granted by the board upon the recommendation of the chief of the fire department or the chief of the police department, and the board shall give notice of such leave of absence to the governing body. All temporary employment caused by leaves of absence shall be made from the eligible list of classified civil service of the department concerned.

FALSE MARKING, GRADING, ETC., OF EXAMINATIONS, ETC., PROHIBITED

Sec. 12.  Be it further enacted. No board member or any other person, shall, by himself, or in cooperation with one or more persons, defeat or deceive any person in respect of his right of examination or registration according to the rules and regulations of this Act, or falsely mark, grade, estimate or report upon the examination or proper standing of any person examined, registered or certified pursuant to the provisions of this Act or aid in so doing, or make any false representation concerning the same or concerning the person examined, or furnish any person any special or secret information for the purpose of improving or injuring the prospects or chances of any person so examined, registered or certified, or persuade any other person, or permit or aid in any manner any person to personate any other person, in connection with any examination or registration or application or request to be examined or registered.

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES; PROHIBITED; RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED

Sec. 13.  Be it further enacted.

(a) No person shall be appointed or promoted to, or demoted or dismissed from, any position in the classified service, or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to the employment in the classified service because of his political or religious opinions, but all employees must take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States.

(b) No person shall seek or attempt to use any political endorsement in connection with any appointment to a position in the classified service.

(c) No person shall use or promise to use, directly or indirectly, any political or official authority or influence, whether possessed or anticipated, to secure or attempt to secure for any person an appointment or advantage in appointment to a position in the classified service or an increase in pay or other advantages in employment in any such position either for the purpose of influencing the vote of political action of any person, or for any consideration, or otherwise.

(d) It shall be the duty of the board to supervise the execution of the foregoing civil service provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, and it shall be the duty of all persons under the provisions of this Act and in the service of the police and fire departments to comply with such rules and to aid in their endorsement.

BOARD MAY OBTAIN ASSISTANCE

Sec. 14.  Be it further enacted. The board shall be authorized to employ such clerical or administrative help as is necessary in carrying out the duties assigned to it, and shall also be authorized to retain legal counsel and engage actuarial experts to the extent necessary in carrying out the functions assigned to the board.

COMPLIANCE WITH ACT

Sec. 15.  Be it further enacted. The failure on the part of the board, or any member thereof or on the part of the governing body of the City of Morristown, or any member thereof, to comply with the terms of this Act shall be considered a violation of this Act and shall be punishable as such. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

CITY TO FURNISH BOARD WITH ACCOMMODATIONS AND EQUIPMENT; EMPLOYMENT OR CLERICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, ETC., ASSISTANCE

Sec. 16.  Be it further enacted. The governing body of the City of Morristown shall provide the board with suitable and convenient rooms and accommodations and cause the same to be furnished, heated and lighted and supplied with all office supplies and equipment necessary to carry on the business of the board and shall either provide directly or provide the funds for the payment of such necessary clerical, administrative, actuarial and legal assistance as may be employed by the board under the provision of section 14 of this Act; and the failure on the part of the governing body to do so shall be considered a violation of the Act and shall be punishable as such. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

APPROPRIATIONS BY CITY COUNCIL; APPOINTMENT OF ORIGINAL BOARD

Sec. 17.  Be it further enacted. The governing body of the City of Morristown shall have authority to appropriate from the general funds of said city a sum sufficient to carry out the purposes of this Act, and shall make such appropriation. Within thirty days after the effective date of this Act, it shall be the duty of the governing body of the City of Morristown, subject to the provisions of this Act, to appoint and create the board, as provided in section 1 hereof, and the failure upon the part of said governing body, or any member of it so to do, shall be deemed a violation of this Act and shall be punishable as such. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

ORGANIZATION OF ORIGINAL BOARD

Sec. 18.  Be it further enacted. It shall be the duty of the board appointed subject to the provisions of this Act to organize immediately and to see that the provisions thereof are carried into effect, and to make suitable rules and regulations to effect said purposes; and the failure upon the part of said board, or any individual member thereof so to do, shall be deemed a violation of this Act and shall be punishable as such.

PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF ACT

Sec. 19.  Be it further enacted. Any person who shall willfully violate any of the provisions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not less than twenty-five, or more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not longer than eleven months and twenty-nine days or by both such fine and confinement in the county jail.

REPEAL OF CONFLICTING LAWS

Sec. 20.  Be it further enacted. That all laws or parts of laws in conflict with this Act be and the same are hereby repealed.

SEVERABILITY OF ACT

Sec. 21.  Be it further enacted. That the provisions of this Act are hereby declared to be joint and severable and the invalidating of any section shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, which shall remain in full force and effect.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Sec. 22.  Be it further enacted. That this Act shall take effect October 1st, 1955, provided, however, that it shall not be valid, or have any effect until it has been ratified and approved by a two-thirds majority of the governing body of the City of Morristown, after its final passage by the General Assembly. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

Passed March 17, 1955

Approved by Governor March 21, 1955

Division C. Sewerage System

Private Acts 1955, Chapter 371

CHARTER AMENDED

Section 1.  Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. That Chapter 103 of the published Acts of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee for the year 1903, the title of which is fully set forth in the caption hereof, and all Acts amendatory thereof, be, and the same are, hereby amended so as to confer upon said municipality the powers and authority hereinafter set out.

DEFINITIONS

Sec. 2.  Be it further enacted. That the following terms, wherever used or referred to in this Act, shall have the following meaning, unless a different meaning appears from the context:

(a) The term "city" shall mean "City of Morristown."

(b) The term "board" shall mean "the city council of the City of Morristown, Tennessee."

(c) The term "federal agency" shall include the United States of America, the President of the United States of America, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, or any other agency, instrumentatory or corporation of the United States of America which has heretofore been or may hereafter be designated, created or authorized by or pursuant to any Act of Congress of the United States of America to make allowances or grants to municipalities.

1. The term "sewerage system" shall be construed to include all or any part of the following: The collecting system, intercepting and out-fall sewers, pumping facilities and treatment, purification and disposal plants, the disposition of sewage and industrial waste. [As amended by Priv. Acts of 1967, ch. 487, § 1]

POWERS OF CITY RELATIVE TO SEWERAGE SYSTEM GENERALLY

Sec. 3.  Be it further enacted. That the city acting by and through its board, shall have power and is hereby authorized to:

(a) Construct, enlarge, expand, repair, maintain and operate a sewerage system partially within or partially without the corporate limits of the city;

(b) Operate and maintain a sewerage system for its own purposes or for the benefit and use of its inhabitants, and also to operate and maintain such sewerage system for the benefit and use of persons, firms and corporations within the corporate limits of the city, and persons, firms and corporations, including municipal corporations, which are situated or whose residence or places of business are situated outside the corporate limits of the city but within Hamblen County, Tennessee, and within a radius of ten miles from the corporate limits of the city.

(c) Contract with Hamblen County, Tennessee, for the furnishing of sewerage service to the county or to the inhabitants thereof where, by furnishing such service, the public health of the city will be protected and stream pollution eliminated.

(d) Accept from any federal agency or from the State of Tennessee or any agency of said state grants for or aid of the construction of a sewerage system.

(e) Contract debts for the construction, repair, replacement, extension, expansion and maintenance of a sewerage system; to borrow money and to issue its bonds to finance such construction, repair, replacement, extension, expansion and maintenance, and to provide for the rights of the holders of the bonds, and to secure the bonds as hereinafter provided.

(f) Fix, levy and collect fees, rents, tolls, or other charges for connecting to and for the use of the sewerage system, including the use for industrial waste.

(g) Acquire, by purchase or the exercise of the right of eminent domain, any property or easements or other right or interest in property necessary for the construction, reconstruction, extension or enlargement of a sewerage system whether such property be within or without the city or partially within and partially without the city.

(h) Make contracts and execute instruments containing such terms, provisions and conditions as in the discretion of the board may be necessary, proper or advisable for the purpose of obtaining a grant, loan or other financial assistance from any federal agency or from the State of Tennessee by virtue of any Act of Congress or Act of the Legislature of Tennessee; to make all contracts and execute all other instruments necessary, proper or advisable in or for the furtherance of the construction of the sewerage system.

(i) Enter on any lands, waters and premises for the purpose of making surveys, soundings and examinations in or for the furtherance of the construction of a sewerage system.

(j) Require the owner, tenant or occupant of each lot or parcel of land which abuts upon a street or other public way containing a sanitary sewer upon which lot or parcel a building exists for residential, commercial or industrial use to connect such building with such sanitary sewer and to cease to use any other means for the disposal of sewage, sewage waste or other polluting matter.

(k) Require the owner, tenant or occupant of each lot or parcel of land who is obligated to pay the charges made for the service furnished by the sewerage system to make a reasonable deposit in advance to insure the payment of such charges.

(l) The board may discontinue all services of the system to any owner, tenant, or occupant obligated to pay the charges made for the service furnished by the sewerage system in the event of failing to pay for any services of the system or for any other services rendered by the city, or its agencies, the charges for which other services are collected by the board or its agencies.

(m) Contract with the board of electric light and waterworks commission, or other person, firm or corporation: (1) to bill and collect fees, tolls, rents or other charges for the use of the sewerage system, as an added designated item on its water service bills, or otherwise, (2) to discontinue water service to sewer users who fail or refuse to pay sewer service charges, (3) not to accept payment of water service charges from any customer without receiving at the same time payment for any sewer service charges owed by such customer, (4) not to re-establish water service for any customer until such time as all past due sewer service charges owed by such customer have been paid, and (5) to make contracts on behalf of the city with customers desiring sewer service, and to require reasonable deposits as security for the payment of any charges under such contracts. The board is hereby authorized to perform all acts and discharge all obligations required by the provisions of any such contract. Any such contract may specify the manner of determining the amount of the electric light and waterworks commission's compensation for its serv