Tenn. Code Ann. § 6-21-102: Subordinate officers and employees

(a) The city manager may appoint, promote, suspend, transfer and remove any officer or employee of the city responsible to the city manager; or the city manager may, in the city manager's discretion, authorize the head of a department or office responsible to the city manager to take such actions regarding subordinates in such department or office. The city manager shall appoint such heads of administrative offices or organizational units as the city manager deems necessary. The city manager may combine, or personally hold, any such administrative offices established pursuant to this subsection (a) or otherwise established or may delegate parts of the duties of the city manager's office to designated subordinates.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this charter, the compensation of all officers and employees of the city shall be fixed by the city manager within the limits of the appropriations ordinance and in accordance with a comprehensive pay plan adopted by the board of commissioners.