L 1835

ة الان

WHICH WAS BEGUN AND HELD AT NASHVILLE, ON THE FIRST

MONDAY IN JANUARY, IN The year of our lord

ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FIVE.

CHAPTER 1.

SENATE BILL No. 41.

AN ACT to incorporate Watertown, Wilson County, Tennessee.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That the town of Watertown, in the county of Wilson, and the inhabitants thereof are hereby constituted and declared a body politic and corporate by the name and style of the Mayor and Aldermen of Watertown, and by that name shall have perpetual succession, shall sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in all the courts of law and equity and in all actions whatsoever, may purchase, receive, and hold real, personal, and mixed property in said town, and sell, lease, and dispose of the same for the benefit of the said town; and may purchase, receive, and hold real, personal, and mixed property beyond the limit of said town, to be used for the burial of the dead, and for the establishment of a hospital, poorhouse, workhouse, or house of correction, to have and use a common seal, and change it at pleasure.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the corporate limits of said town shall embrace the territory within the following boundaries-to-wit:

Boundaries.

taxes.

Beginning at a stake in the South line of the right-ofway of the Tennessee Central Railroad at a point directly opposite and in line with the west boundary line of Hardin Davis; thence with said Davis' west line to a stake on the north side of the Lebanon and Sparta pike; thence -east with said turnpike to the southwest corner of J. P. Blankenship's lot; thence north with said Blankenship's west line to his northwest corner; thence with the western boundary line of the lots in what is known as the Maddux Addition to Watertown to the northwest corner of L. A. Phillips lot No. 14; thence in an easterly direction to the northwest corner of J. L. Bryan's lot in Bryan Addition to Watertown; thence in an easterly direction with the south boundary of J. L. Bryan, the same being the north line of all the lots facing on Woodland Street, to the northeast corner of W. H. Lincoln's lot; thence north 500 feet to a stake; thence east to the west line of the Commerce road; thence north with said road to a point opposite Mrs. Bell's northwest corner; thence with said Bell's north boundary to the northeast corner of same; thence in an easterly direction to an elm in the northwest corner of L. A. Phillips yard; thence east 200 feet to a stake; thence to the northwest corner of the Christian Church lot; thence to the northeast corner of said church lot; thence south with the east line of the church lot and with the east line of the Catamount road to a stake in the south boundary of the Tennessee Central Railroad at pike crossing; thence with said right-of-way to the northeast corner of the Watertown Rolling Mill lot; thence south with said lot. and to the Round Lick Creek; thence in a westerly direction with the meanderings of said creek to the eastern line of the Watertown and Statesville road; thence north with said road's eastern line to the south line of the Tennessee Central Railroad right-of-way; thence with south line of said right-of-way to the beginning, and shall embrace all lands in the said boundaries.

SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That all parcels of land Certain lands within the foregoing boundaries not improved and used for exempt from farming purposes, or that are uncultivated, exceeding one acre, shall be free from municipal taxation until improved, and when an improvement shall have been made, one acre, together with the improvements thereon, may be subjected to taxation.

SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the government of said town shall be invested in a Mayor and six Aldermen,

to be chosen every year by the qualified voters of said officers.
town; and all persons residing in said town, and all per-
sons owning real estate in their own name in said town,
but residing without its limits, who would be qualified to
vote for the members of the General Assembly, shall be
qualified to vote for Mayor and Aldermen and in all town
elections.

SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That the Mayor shall hold his office for two years and until his Mayor; Duties. successor shall be elected and qualified.

No per

son shall be elected a Mayor who is not at the time a
citizen of the State of Tennessee, a qualified voter, one
year a bona-fide resident of said town, and shall be a free-
holder to the assessed valuation of five hundred dollars.
The Mayor shall be ex-officio Recorder, but may decline.
to perform the duties of Recorder, in which case the
Recorder shall be appointed as hereinafter provided. He
may fill all vacancies occurring in offices except that of
Aldermen, until the same shall be filled in the manner pro-
vided by this act, and shall receive no compensation or sal-
ary as such Mayor. It shall be the duty of the Mayor, un-
less relieved by the Board of Aldermen, to preside at all
meetings of the Board, but he will not be permitted to vote
for any officer or agent, nor upon any measures, proposi-
tion, or ordinances before the Board, except in case of a
tie, and he shall then give the casting vote. In the event
he is absent, or does not preside, such member of the Al-
dermen shall preside as they may determine by majority
vote or ordinance. It shall be the duty of the Mayor to
take care and see that all ordinances and laws of the town
are duly enforced, observed, and obeyed, and he shall, on
application, instruct officers in their duty. Before enter-
ing upon the duties of his office, he shall take an oath to
faithfully demean himself in office and discharge the du-
ties thereof. It shall be his duty, from time to time, to
lay before the Board of Aldermen in writing all matters
and things that he may deem it important to have acted
upon, accompanied with suitable recommendations, and
to call special sessions of the Board of Aldermen whenever
he may deem it necessary and expedient, at which special
session no other business than that for which the session is
called shall be transacted. He may remit wholly or in
part fines, costs, forfeitures, and penalties imposed by the
corporate courts, but shall make a report of such remis- Mayor.
sions at the next meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen, to-

Duties of

Aldermen.

Powers of
Mayor and
Aldermen.

gether with his reasons therefor. For any malfeasance or misfeasance in his office as Mayor he shall be subjected to be charged by the Board of Aldermen and fined and dismissed from his office as the Aldermen may in their wisdom determine for the best; and on such trial the Aldermen shall elect by ballot one of their number to preside, and shall take an oath to faithfully and impartially try and render judgment on such trial.

SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, That no person shall be an Alderman unless he be a citizen of the State of Tennessee, a qualified voter, and shall be a freeholder to the assessed value of two hundred dollars, and for one year a bona-fide resident of said town. Each Alderman before entering upon the duties of his office shall take an oath to faithfully demean himself in office and discharge the duties thereof.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen shall have full power and authority to appoint and elect all officers, servants, and agents of the corporation, and they shall have power for sufficient causes to dismiss and discharge any officer or agent that they may appoint by a majority vote of the Aldermen present. Four Aldermen shall constitute a quorum to transact business, and Aldermen shall hold their office for one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Every Alderman guilty of malfeasance or misfeasance in office shall be subject to be charged and tried by the Board of Aldermen and fined or dismissed from their office as in their wisdom they may deem for the best; and on such trial the Mayor shall preside and have the casting vote. Before entering on such trial, each Alderman and the Mayor shall take an oath to faithfully and impartially try the accused and pass judgment.

SEC. 7. Be it further enacted, That the Mayor and Alderman of Watertown shall have full power and authority by ordinance within the town; first to levy and collect taxes for school and corporation purposes, and to dispense the same, upon all property taxable by law for State purposes, provided that the ad valorem asssessment on property for the purpose of meeting the current expenses of the corporation, shall not exceed fifty cents.

2. To levy and collect taxes upon all privileges and polls taxable by law for State purposes provided, however, that all taxes collected from poll tax shall be for school purposes only.