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City council rules of procedure

MTAS was asked whether the city council did appoint a certain person as police chief.

Hemsley, Sid
Legal Opinion
City council
City council--Procedure
Meetings--Planning and management
Internal
06/25/2021
12/15/1992

Sampling of current long-serving mayors

This is a brief sampling of mayors that have served 20 years or more (concurrently).

Adams-O'Brien, Frances
Survey
Mayor
Personnel--Administration
Public
06/9/2021
09/24/2020

Model landscaping ordinances

MTAS was asked to provide a model landscaping ordinance and found several examples.

Darden, Don
Ordinance
Land use--Municipal ordinances
Municipal ordinances
Zoning--Municipal ordinances
Internal
04/29/2021
08/21/2008

Replacing fire hose

NFPA requires a fire department to have a replacement schedule, but stops short of establishing a maximum number of years of service, leaving that up to the authority having jurisdiction. Even though a section of 15-year old fire hose may still pass an annual test, the fire chief should consider a 10-year maximum service life under normal operating conditions. The 2013 edition of NFPA 1962 has a requirement that calls for hose manufactured before July 1987 to be removed from service. The ISO FSRS also addresses the testing of fire hose. For maximum points, the fire department must test all fire hose annually. The FSRS states: The Hose Service Test Program shall be in accordance with the general criteria of NFPA 1962, which requires that test pressures are a minimum of 300 psi for attack hose, and a minimum of 200 psi for supply hose. As long as the fire hose passes an annual test, ISO will give the fire department credit for the hose.

Wolf, Dennis
General
Fire--Equipment--Hoses and nozzles
Fire--Insurance ratings
Public
07/26/2021
06/19/2013

Outside utility rate discrimination

MTAS was asked several questions related to charging outside utility customers higher rates than inside utility customers.

Hemsley, Sid
Legal Opinion
Utilities--Rates and charges
Utilities--Rates and charges--Tennessee
Public
04/23/2021
05/19/2009

Gift cards given to city commissioners at christmas

During a visit to Charleston, Tennessee, MTAS attorney Elisha Hodge was told that City Commissioners are given grocery store gift cards for Christmas along with the rest of the city's employees. While the card is intended to be used for a Christmas meat but it is just a gift card given. This likely counts as a gift or additional income that wouldn't wouldn't be allowed.

Hodge, Elisha
Legal Opinion
Personnel--Municipal
Internal
04/21/2021
09/19/2018

Enforcement of out-of-state custody orders

MTAS was asked whether a police department has the authority to enforce a custody order from another state.

Ashburn, Melissa
Legal Opinion
Police--Custody of children
Internal
05/12/2021
11/22/2013

Question about notice of meeting where appointment of commissioner to the water and sewer board took place

When a commissioner was appointed to the Water and Sewer Board, the joint board claimed that the appointment is not valid as no notice was given of the meeting at which the appointment was made.

Ashburn, Melissa
Legal Opinion
Boards
Open meetings--Laws and regulations
Utilities--Boards
Internal
06/28/2021
08/6/2002

Zoning amendment vote

MTAS was asked to interpret a vote when a majority vote of the membership of the board is required as opposed to a quorum of the present members.

Ashburn, Melissa
Legal Opinion
Meetings
Planning--Commissions
Zoning
Public
07/16/2021
06/4/2002

Indemnification of city officers, employees, and board members

MTAS was asked about the importance of adopting language to indemnify city officers, employees, and board members while properly acting in the scope of their official duties.

Broughton, Jeff
General
Governmental tort liability
Liability
Public
04/15/2021
03/26/2014
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