MTAS was asked whether a board member may make a motion concerning an item that is not on the agenda without being recognized by the chairman.
| Meetings--Planning and management Meetings City council--Procedure City councilmember |
University of Tennessee MPPA Graduate Student Dane Morgan conducted a survey of Tennessee municipalities with the assistance of MTAS Librarian Frances Adams-O'Brien. The attached report is a section of a report originally completed for the City of Knoxville Rules of Procedure and Charter Review Task Force in May 2025. The section organizes and briefly discusses the results of the survey sent out in April 2025.
The survey primarily asked questions pertaining to 1) rules of procedure during meetings of the governing body and 2) workshops across Tennessee municipalities (with many municipalities referring to workshops as work sessions). We received responses from 72 municipalities before the survey closed. Of these respondents, 66 completed the survey in its entirety.
| City council--Procedure Meetings Meetings--Planning and management Open meetings |
MTAS was asked what disposition a city can make of unclaimed, lost, or abandoned personal property in the possession of the police department, such as, but not limited to, money, bicycles, automobiles, etc.
| Laws and regulations--State Police--Criminal forfeiture Purchasing--Surplus property disposal |
Twelve Tennessee cities were asked about their fees for park and facilities usage and who handles them.
| Parks and recreation--Fees and charges |
The City of Crossville held a strategic planning retreat at Cumberland Mountain State Park on May 16, 2019. The purpose was to develop four (4) goals for fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.
| Planning--Municipal Planning--Reports Planning--Tennessee |
Four sample city council agendas and one study session agenda are included.
| City council--Procedure City council Meetings--Planning and management |
MTAS Legal Consultant Elisha Hodge responded to a question about whether or not a person under the age of 21 can apply for and hold a beer permit in the State of Tennessee.
| Beer--Licenses and permits Alcoholic beverages Alcoholic beverages--Licenses and permits Businesses--Laws and regulations--Tennessee |
This Report reviews the city's growth and development review process including engineering, planning and zoning, and building and property maintenance inspection.
| Performance measurement Municipal government--Services Personnel--Administration Management Management--Policy and evaluation |
MTAS Legal Consultant Elisha Hodge responded to a request for information regarding whether or not the "Fresh Start Act" applies to applicant for a beer permit following a case decided 9 years ago.
| Alcoholic beverages--Laws and regulations Beer--Licenses and permits |
MTAS was asked to research and recommend other municipal requirements relating to the administration of contracts for public works or improvements; includes resolution and ordinance.
| Public works--Contracts Public works--Finance--Municipal ordinances Municipal ordinances Surety |
