Question 1 - Charter Amendment

Under Article IX of the Charter, the Town Municipal Court and Rutherford County General Sessions Court both have jurisdiction over criminal offenses committed within the Town of Smyrna. The proposed amendment to the Town Charter would repeal the general sessions jurisdiction of the Town Municipal Court over criminal offenses. If the amendment passes, the Town would not be responsible for criminal court jurisdiction. All criminal cases would be exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Rutherford County General Sessions Criminal Courts, while municipal code infractions and traffic violations would remain under the Smyrna Town Court's jurisdiction. The proposed amendment provides that the Town Court Clerk shall fulfill her term in office until the August 2026 general election and, thereafter, the position of Court Clerk will be filled by a Town employee. It also provides that the Town Judge shall fulfill her term in office until the August 2030 general election and thereafter, the position of Town Judge shall be appointed by the Town Council. To enact the charter amendment, the legislation must pass by a majority of Smyrna voters in a referendum, be passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and the legislation must be ratified by two-thirds of the Town Council. Shall the charter of the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee be amended in accordance with Ordinance Number 23-39, as related to Article IX: Town Court, to repeal the general sessions jurisdiction of the Town Municipal Court over criminal offenses and to authorize the appointment of the Town Judge and Town Court Clerk positions upon the completion of the current terms of office?