Tennessee Code Title 6. Cities and Towns § 6-21-107

(a) In addition to all other powers conferred upon the city manager, the city manager shall be the administrative head of the municipal government under the direction and supervision of the board of commissioners. The city manager shall be appointed without regard to the city manager's political beliefs and need not be a resident of the city or state at the time of appointment.

(b) During the absence or disability of the city manager, the board of commissioners may designate some properly qualified person to perform the functions of the city manager.

(c) The city manager shall not be required to give the city manager's entire time to the affairs of the city, unless the city commissioners, when employing the city manager, make the employment conditional upon the city manager's devoting the city manager's entire time to the interest of the city.