Athens City Charter

Section 1. Be it further enacted, That the City Council shall, as soon as practicable, elect or appoint a City Manager by a majority vote of its entire membership and fix his salary. Such salary shall be payable in equal biweekly installments. He shall be appointed solely on the basis of his executive qualifications and need not, when elected, be a resident of the city or the state. No member of the City Council shall, at any time, be chosen during the period for which elected, as City Manager, nor for two years thereafter. The City Manager shall be removable at any time, by the Council, upon a majority vote of its entire membership. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1990, ch. 213, § 4]

Section 2. Be it further enacted, That the said City Council shall fix the salaries of the employees hired by the City Manager, being guided in this action by the City Manager's recommendations. The City Council shall establish and make provisions in the appropriation ordinance for such other officers, agents and employees as may be necessary. All officers, agents and employees, except the city judge, city attorney or attorneys, and members of and employees under the supervision of the Board of Education and Utilities Board, shall be appointed by the City Manager and removed by him at any time. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1992, ch. 215, § 3; and Priv. Acts 2004, ch. 92, § 3]

Section 3. Be it further enacted, That every officer, agent, and employee holding a position upon an annual salary shall, before entering upon his duties, take and subscribe and file with the City Manager, an oath or affirmation that he has all the qualifications named in this charter for the office or employment he is about to assume; that he will support the constitution of the United States and of this State and the charter and ordinances of the city and that he will faithfully discharge the duties of his office of employment. [As amended by Priv. Acts 1992, ch. 215, § 4]

Section 4. Be it further enacted, That the City Manager and every officer, agent, and employee having duties embracing the receipt, disbursement, custody, or handling of money shall, before entering upon his duties, execute a surety bond with some surety company authorized to do business in the State of Tennessee, as surety, in such amount as shall be prescribed by ordinances of the City Council, except where the amount is prescribed in this Charter. All such bonds and sureties thereto, shall be subject to the approval of the City Council. The cost of making said bonds shall be paid by the city.

Section 5. Be it further enacted, That if at any time, it appears to the Mayor or City Manager that the surety or sureties on any official bond are insufficient, the officer, or employee may be required by the City Council to give additional bond, and if such officer or employee fails to give additional bond within twenty days after he shall have been notified, his office shall be declared vacant.