Athens City Charter

Section 1. Be it further enacted, That, in addition to all other powers conferred upon the City Manager, he shall be administrative head of the municipal government under the supervision of the City Council. The City Manager shall be required to give his full time to the duties of his office. During the absence or disability of the City Manager, the City Council may designate some properly qualified person to perform the functions of the City Manager.

Section 2. Be it further enacted, That the powers and duties of the City Manager shall be:

1. (a) Enforcement of ordinances: To see that the laws and ordinances are enforced, and upon knowledge or information of any violation thereof, to see that prosecutions are instituted in the city court.
2. (b) Appointment and removal of officers and employees: Except as in this charter provided, to appoint and remove all heads of departments and all subordinate officers and employees, all appointments are to be made on the applicant's qualifications for the job without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability or because the applicant is forty (40) or more years of age; provided, however, that all such present officers and employees shall continue to serve until removed and/or their successors are so appointed.
3. (c) To supervise and control the work of all officers and employees, except the city judge and members of the Board of Education, and to so supervise and control the work of all departments and divisions other than the Department of Education, the City Attorney or Attorneys, City Judge, and the Athens Utilities Board, created by this Charter or which hereafter may be created by the City Council.
4. (d) Public Utilities and franchises: To see that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the city or its inhabitants on any public utility or franchise are faithfully done, kept and performed, and upon knowledge or information of any violation thereof, to call the same to the attention of the city attorney, or attorneys, who are hereby required to take such steps as are necessary to enforce the same.
5. (e) Meetings of the City Council; discussion but no vote: To attend all meetings of the City Council, with the right to take part in the discussion, but not to vote.
6. (f) Recommendation to City Council: To recommend to the City Council such measures as he may deem necessary or expedient.
7. (g) Budget officer; financial condition: To act as budget officer and to keep the City Council advised as to the financial condition and needs of the city.
8. (h) Purchasing Agent: To act as purchasing agent for the city and to purchase all material, supplies and equipment for the proper conduct of the city's business, except the Athens Utilities Board and the Board of Education. Maximum expenditures by City Manager: The City Council shall prescribe by ordinance the maximum expenditure which the City Manager may make without specific authorization of the council, and shall prescribe rules for competitive bidding, but no purchase shall be made at any one time in an amount which in the aggregate will exceed the state-adopted maximum as provided in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 6, Chapter 56, Part 3, unless bids shall have been requested through public advertisement and award made on bids most advantageous to the city. Any exceptions to competitive bidding established by state law shall apply to purchases by the city, including, but not limited to, those exceptions set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 6-56-304. When any contract is not awarded to the lowest bidder, the reason for such action shall be given in writing to the City Council.[As amended by Priv. Acts 1976, ch. 260, § 1; Priv. Acts 1990, ch. 213, § 6; Priv. Acts 1992, ch. 215, §§ 5 and 6; Priv. Acts 2000, ch. 83, § 4; Priv. Acts 2004, ch. 92, § 4; Priv. Acts 2005, ch. 23, § 1, and Priv. Acts 2019, ch. 7, § 1]