§ 13-14-106 — Powers and duties of boards

(a) Each board created under this chapter has the authority to: (1) Organize itself into a public body, elect its officers, and adopt bylaws for purposes of carrying out functions authorized under this chapter; (2) Receive and expend funds from any sources for staffing, for research, planning, coordination, economic development, demonstration projects, and other activities deemed necessary to promote the efficient, harmonious and economic development of the district; and receive grants from private foundations for purposes of research and for demonstration projects oriented to human, physical and natural resources utilization; (3) Contract with local, state and federal agencies, and with consultants for services to be provided; (4) Prepare broad plans for the economic development of the district, including, but not limited to, comprehensive land use and plans for physical development. Such plans shall be made with the purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted, efficient and economic development of the district which will, in accordance with present and future needs and resources, best promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and welfare of the citizens, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development, including distribution of population, urbanization, and the uses of land and resources for trade, industry, recreation, forestry, agriculture and tourism, and will tend to create conditions favorable to transportation, health, safety and otherwise promote the general welfare of the citizens. Such plans may include the design and layout of industrial parks and feasibility studies for extension of utilities and services to areas deemed suitable for industrial development; (5) Cooperate and coordinate its activities with local and state planning agencies and other districts in developing and implementing plans for development; (6) Cooperate and coordinate its activities with the federal agencies responsible for developing natural, human and physical resources of the district; recommend projects which will enhance the development of all resources, to be carried out through existing governmental units or through a combination of these as applicable under state laws, including, but not limited to, the former Area Redevelopment Program [terminated], the Appalachian program and the former Economic Opportunity Act [repealed]; (7) Cooperate with local and regional finance companies in assembling financial resources for commercial, industrial and other development; (8) Compile, prepare, publish and disseminate information about the economic resources of the district and about sub-areas; (9) Encourage and assist in the creation of private and semipublic, nonprofit organizations as needed and under existing laws of the state for carrying out specific projects and programs initiated under federal and state laws; (10) Enter into compacts or contractual arrangements with planning agencies of other adjoining or neighboring states, for the purpose of preparing joint-comprehensive plans for development of a broader area or region. Boards are hereby expressly authorized to expend funds for interstate planning, notwithstanding the fact that in doing so portions of such funds may be used for planning work outside of the state boundary; (11) Contract with the commission on aging and disability to operate the program established by title 34, chapter 7; and (12) Have and exercise other authority as deemed necessary to further and promote the orderly and economic development of the state. (b) Each governing board operating under this chapter shall: (1) Jointly adopt statewide uniform travel regulations subject to the approval of the commissioner of finance and administration and shall reimburse its officers and employees for official travel in conformance with such regulations; (2) Develop a system of competitive bidding on purchases of supplies and equipment and other contracts and shall submit the written procedures governing such system to the state procurement commission for approval; (3) Develop written personnel procedures to be filed with the commissioner of finance and administration for the hiring, promotion, demotion and dismissal of all employees, and shall include an employee compensation plan based on a salary comparability analysis which takes into account state salary schedules, local government salary schedules, and regional private market variations; and (4) Submit, annually, to the department of economic and community development, or such other office as may be directed by the governor, a work program and budget, together with such other information as may be requested.

Legislative History

Acts 1965, ch. 241, § 6; 1976, ch. 665, §§ 1-3; 1979, ch. 381, § 1; T.C.A., § 13-1406; Acts 1989, ch. 196, § 1; 1990, ch. 654, § 2; 1995, ch. 501, § 5; 2011, ch. 295, § 19.