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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

Ad placed with a for-profit newspaper may be beyond the authority of the city

MTAS was asked whether the City should be paying for an advertisement to appear on the "Devotional Page" of the newpaper.

Shechter, Leslie
Legal Opinion
Constitutional law
Public information--Newsletters
Public notices
Internal
06/25/2021
03/11/1993

Administrative Hearing Officer position survey

 A survey of selected cities regarding the employment of an administrative hearing officer (AHO). Includes whether the position is full-time, or part-time, if the position is contracted and the nature of the contracted relationship. 

Adams-O'Brien, Frances
Grubbs, John
Survey
Building codes
Code enforcement
Code enforcement--Personnel
Public
02/28/2025

Use of city funds to advocate for an outcome in a referendum on metropolitan government

MTAS was asked how city funds can and can't be used for a metro committee and a future metro vote.

Broughton, Jeff
Ashburn, Melissa
General
Metropolitan government--Finance
Metropolitan government
Governmental units--Consolidation
Public
07/16/2021
08/29/2014

Wastewater treatment facilities management agreement

MTAS was asked to review wastewater facilities management agreement and state law governing wastewater treatment authorities, and determined that Authority is responsible for maintaining all sewer lines, including lateral lines.

Ashburn, Melissa
Legal Opinion
Wastewater--Facilities
Wastewater--Administration
Wastewater--Contracts
Wastewater--Lines and pipes
Public
07/16/2021
04/12/2005

Use of city right-of-way for communications equipment

A legal opinion from MTAS answering questions related to the use of poles in city right-of-way to mount communications equipment including backhaul towers.

O'Hara, Stephanie Allen
Legal Opinion
Telecommunications--Right of way
Wireless communication systems
Zoning--Laws and regulations--Tennessee
Internal
04/15/2021
10/5/2017

TWA and local zoning of cell towers

MTAS was asked to review a letter from TWA related to a proposed ordinance the city drafted pertinent to cell tower siting.

Hemsley, Sid
Legal Opinion
Telecommunications--Municipal ordinances
Wireless communication systems--Municipal ordinances
Cellular telephones
Zoning--Municipal ordinances
Internal
04/15/2021
04/18/2011

Guide to alcohol and beer laws in Tennessee

MTAS frequently receive questions related to alcohol and beer laws in Tennessee. In an effort to assist municipal officials and employees with these questions, MTAS developed this guide that includes many of the relevant statutory provisions related to alcohol and beer in Tennessee. This guide does not include every statutory provision related to alcohol or beer, so the Tennessee Code will still need to be reviewed as questions arise.

An FAQ section addresses issues such as restrictions related to distance and number of permits.

O'Hara, Stephanie Allen
General
Alcoholic beverages--Laws and regulations
Public
01/7/2026
01/7/2026

Tennessee municipal public health emergency closures

MTAS has been asked by several city attorneys whether cities have any authority to prohibit mass gatherings and close businesses. This seems to be the question with which all cities are struggling because no statutory or charter authority is directly on point for a pandemic. The options that are being explored by cities are using the charter police powers and/or declarations of emergencies. Cities could potentially use a combination of both authorities.

O'Hara, Stephanie Allen
Ashburn, Melissa; Hodge, Elisha
General
Public facilities
Public health and safety
Emergency management
Public
05/10/2021
03/17/2020
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