MTAS Legal Consultant Elisha Hodge responded to a request for information from a Tennessee city regarding whether or not an employee's retirement benefits could be paid through ICMA instead of TCRS.

A sample job ad for a city attorney position.

The Town of Petersburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen requested MTAS assistance to perform a comprehensive review of the Town’s charter.  MTAS facilitated a work session with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to identify any specific concerns outside of the request for an overall review of the charter.  Following the work session, Chuck Downham, Municipal Management Consultant, and Elisha Hodge, Legal Consultant, worked collaboratively to perform a comprehensive review of the charter, giving specific attention to items noted by the Board.   The comprehensive review revealed numerous provisions throughout the charter that MTAS recommended amending.   Utilizing charter provisions from other municipalities including the City of Shelbyville, an initial draft resolution (attached) was prepared and presented to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for consideration during a work session.  The work session was facilitated by MTAS to reach consensus on the recommended amendments prepared by MTAS. The initial draft resolution identified the provisions MTAS recommended amending in the current charter and also included provisions that MTAS recommended adding to the current charter.  Specifically, the initial draft resolution included provisions establishing the positions of a Town Treasurer and Town Administrator, in the event the Board of Mayor and Aldermen desire to appoint such positions in the future. During the work session, the Board identified a few additional provisions to be included in the final draft that was to be prepared by MTAS and presented to the Board for consideration.   A final draft resolution and corresponding exhibits were prepared for formal consideration by the Board of Mayor and Alderman.  The final draft resolution was approved unanimously by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and a fully executed copy will be transmitted to the legislative delegation so that legal services can prepare a bill for consideration by the General Assembly.

MTAS was asked whether the town is authorized to issue building permits and conduct inspections on the new county elementary school.

An annual spreadsheet with police staffing levels for every Tennessee municipal law enforcement agency that reports crime data to the TBI.

Job description for the position of Fitness Facility Manager.

An ordinance to amend the town's code by adding regulations for removal of vegetation and debris from overgrown and dirty lots.

A draft ordinance for repaying the water fund for illegal use of funds transferred to the city's general fund.

MTAS was asked whether a particular act, if passed by the General Assembly, would withstand a legal challenge.

MTAS asked six cities and counties whether they paid to have their recyclables diverted or if they were paid for them.