Knowledgebase

Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 Knowledgebase documents.
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N95 Respirators and Respiratory Protection Q & A: A Hot Topic for Tennessee Municipalities
General (Created: 2020-03-30; Reviewed: 2021-05-21 )

With the shortage of N95 respirators, which is the type of respirator recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for respiratory protection against the coronavirus, MTAS has received questions about the reuse of N95 respirators and alternate types of respirators and masks. This hot topic provides information on N95 respirators and other types of respiratory protection. MTAS does not recommend or endorse any products. Cities should use this information as a resource when making decisions for their operations.
Natural Gas Basics
(Created: 2022-05-18; Reviewed: 2022-05-18 )

This guide provides basic information concerning natural gas as it relates to a municipal gas system or local distribution customer (LDC). It is not intended to be an all-inclusive detailed discussion on natural gas.
Need for a City Administrator
Report/Study (Created: 2003-06-05; Reviewed: 2021-07-08 )

MTAS was asked to assist theTown of Spencer in converting to a city administrator form of government.
Need for Professional Management
Report/Study (Created: 2009-08-28; Reviewed: 2021-07-15 )

A report addressing the issue of employing professional managers or administrators who have municipal experience.
Need for Professional Management Experience
General (Created: 2009-05-26; Reviewed: 2021-05-18 )

The purpose of this letter is to increase awareness of the issues that need to be considered when hiring a city administrator.
Negotiating Price with the Low Bidder When There Is Only One Bid on a Municipal Purchase
Legal Opinion (Created: 1997-02-04; Reviewed: 2021-07-29 )

MTAS was asked whether the city can negotiate price with the low bidder when there is only one bid on a municipal purchase.
New Fire Station Design Standards
General (Created: 2003-09-08; Reviewed: 2021-07-22 )

MTAS received a question on the construction of a new fire station.
New Officials' Tips
General (Created: 2002-06-06; Reviewed: 2021-04-16 )

MTAS consultants ranked their top fifteen tips for new officials.
New Statutory Requirements for Meetings of Municipal Governing Bodies
General (Created: 2023-06-01; Reviewed: 2023-09-07 )

The 113th General Assembly amended the Tennessee Open Meetings Act with two separate public chapters that will impact your municipality. Those public chapters are Public Chapter 213, Acts of 2023 (requires meeting agendas for meetings of the local legislative body to be made available 48 hours prior to the meeting), and Public Chapter 300, Acts of 2023 (requires a public comment period at each public meeting). The summary and comments on both are found in the attached document.
New Youth Sports Concussion and Head Injury Law Effective January 1, 2014
General (Created: 2013-12-11; Reviewed: 2021-06-21 )

Public Chapter 148 passed by the Tennessee General Assembly in April 2013 and effective on January 1, 2014, requires all cities that have 'youth athletic activities' to comply with guidelines issued by the Tennessee Department of Health concerning risk and symptoms of concussion and head injuries.
Newly Elected Official’s Guide to Taking Office
General (Created: 2019-11-14; Reviewed: 2021-10-20 )

You just won an election for your municipal office. Now what? We address some common questions of when and how you take office, who may administer your oath, and what information should be included the oath of office in this document. Sample oath templates for boards, judges and other offices are included for Tennessee municipal use.

Also, we have short online course (City Byte) linked below that will walk you through the following topics: when do you take office, who can swear you in, what should be in the oath and what's next.
NFPA 1582: Standard on Medical Requirements for Firefighters and Fire Department Physicians
Form (Created: 2019-09-24; Reviewed: 2021-05-21 )

This is an NFPA sample form for conducting a physical medical examination for a firefighter.
Nolensville, Tennessee, Fire Services Study
Report/Study (Created: 2012-09-28; Reviewed: 2021-07-22 )

The purpose of this fire study is to answer two questions: 1. What options are available to the Town of Nolensville regarding the provision of fire protection, emergency medical response, and related emergency services for the town? 2. Can MTAS provide a recommendation for a fire protection plan for the Town of Nolensville at build-out?
Nomination for Filling the Vacancy on a City Council
Form (Created: 2015-07-13; Reviewed: 2021-07-21 )

The City of Kingsport requested a nomination form for filling a city council vacancy.
Non-Compliance with Governor Lee’s Executive Orders Nos. 17, 21 and 22: Guidance for Tennessee Municipalities
General (Created: 2020-03-25; Reviewed: 2021-06-22 )

Guidance for municipalities on a course of action for business owners who may refuse the guidelines of Executive Orders Nos. 17, 21, and 22.
Non-Resident of a Town Holding the Office of Alderman
Legal Opinion (Created: 1994-06-15; Reviewed: 2021-07-21 )

MTAS was asked whether a non-resident of the town can hold the office of alderman.
Norris Citizen Survey
Survey (Created: 2008-07-18; Reviewed: 2021-07-08 )

An example of a citizen survey on the topics of annexation, taxation, and growth.
Norris City Manager Evaluation
Form (Created: 2009-02-01; Reviewed: 2021-07-08 )

MTAS was asked to create an evaluation form based on requirements from the city's charter and code.
Northeast Guide for Estimating Staffing at Publicly and Privately Owned Wastewater Treatment Plants
Report/Study (Created: 2009-06-29; Reviewed: 2021-06-22 )

The guide and Excel spreadsheet may be downloaded from: http://www.neiwpcc.org/technicalguides.asp
Notice of a Special Meeting
Legal Opinion (Created: 2006-09-29; Reviewed: 2021-07-21 )

How long in advance is the notice of a special meeting required to be given to the public?
Notice Requirements for Special Meetings
Legal Opinion (Created: 2022-04-01; Reviewed: 2022-05-10 )

MTAS Legal Consultant Elisha Hodge answers questions from a Tennessee city regarding the notice requirements for special meetings. Case law on this topic was cited as well as a list of locations that public notices can be posted for special meetings.
Number of Board Members in Selected Cities
General (Created: 2008-02-27; Reviewed: 2021-06-28 )

A listing of the number of board members in eighty cities with populations between 2,400 and 7,600.