ÿWPC_ Ð_M)§™:8£ÉãRÖW>=ÆÌšû#̇ýÍ…R;`- kGBÛ:¶dËžÖ-®åWò&à·Épkì¾Á`Kp K¢t‡núQè=Š“M'Ñõ®Ø fõ¶{?£ºÂžáìmÀ¥M]õÀˆÜRµØ/“Æ!±¼¤:0Ÿiê>¿zýBWט¦¡3jäõÓZ5cš…@¨Kæq_×îûÀÖÚïÔ tÇMx ¬—ãs³6αȧO¯(öüò}‘½/«BBe™†86ŠGù/ÁÆ-Æ.c„ö5ƒŒÐ‰ê æƒÓo–g°–™»tQ•ïe+†^jß {h=Ë:"P8º  ±úkÓ¸¬¡b<ªe˜:Ç”OÞ‡\¾à)GÇ&é×$s…q_ȺÝ󧻕Ô~ÑИzI®ð©^ol\Ê`Ø_”É$ÑljÃq>Ÿ“¸wFvr"^sGzZþK·ÌËÏÛrÙÜ6¿Òݥ܋Üi¾mÒyží+ú¿ ï(@*@þ¿)Wj¿ß¦’[¼º rã³§±šw/‘bÎŽ "¸?§,bšM–aÍ}óG»’Î‹Š¦ŠÎà#­O°®J[W{Cü}KËgñtÿÈb#Á\ % UN# 0ˆq UNù ^ G wS zW ÒÑ 4£ · Æ mÈ Æß Æ¥ Æk Æ1 0D÷N;==ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRbTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT 0ë\\\\ BGG 0¤d D3 D-; 0Khh AS³Æ 0¤Ì 0Dp A«´˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular݃K+â  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptòK+ë3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó Ý ƒR\x$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô_œ ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€opinion€was€authored€by€William€C.€Koch,€Jr.,€a€member€of€this€Court€who€was,€at€the€time,€a€DeputyÐ ° ÐAttorney€General.- ù-(|G2\x$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Y¬»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô3 ò»»Ô d(|3Î $££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Y¬»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Î $¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Y¬»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€_»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼ñ¤»»»ÔÑ8€7XXdê»»d 8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îîñ¤ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼ñ¤»îîî #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓMARCH€21,€2001€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X¬X»¼ñ¤ÔÌò òÔ#†¼ñ¤»XX¬ñ#ÔAMERICAN€FEDERATION€OF€STATE,€COUNTY€AND€MUNICIPALÐ úJ ÐEMPLOYEES,€LOCAL€1733,€RICK€BROWN,€ELAINE€Ô_ÔTIDWELLÔ_Ô,Ð  ^ ÐROSETTA€JONES,€Ô_ÔPRENTISSÔ_Ô€MILTON,€JOE€Ô_ÔEGGLESTONÔ_Ô,€andÐ " r ÐANNETTE€FLETCHERòòóó€v.€CHRIS€TURNER,€GENERAL€SESSIONSÐ 6 † ÐCOURT€CLERK,€AND€SHELBY€COUNTY€GOVERNMENTòòóóÔ‡X¬X»¼ñ¤Ôó óÐ J š ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ Jš  Ðà@@øøìàNo.€83938€T.D.;€The€Honorable€J.€Steven€Stafford,€Judge,€by€Designation€Ð 6†  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ù` AßÐ úJ ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2000„00166„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€10,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ õE ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Ì` AßÐ Í Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€appeal€arises€from€a€collective€bargaining€agreement€entered€into€by€the€Appellants€andÐ È Ðemployees€of€the€Shelby€County€General€Sessions€Court€Clerkððs€office.€€The€Appellees€refused€toÐ ´ Ðrecognize€the€collective€bargaining€agreement.€€The€Appellants€filed€a€complaint€against€theÐ  ð ÐAppellees€in€the€Circuit€Court€of€Shelby€County.€€The€complaint€alleged€violations€of€Article€1,Ð ŒÜ ÐSection€8€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution,€the€Equal€Protection€and€Due€Process€Clauses€of€theÐ xÈ ÐFourteenth€Amendment€to€the€United€States€Constitution,€the€First€Amendment€to€the€United€StatesÐ d´ ÐConstitution,€and€breach€of€contract€under€Tennessee€law.€€The€parties€filed€cross„motions€forÐ P  Ðsummary€judgment.€€The€trial€court€entered€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€the€Appellees.Ð <Œ ÐÌà  àThe€Appellants€appeal€the€grant€of€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€the€Appellees€by€theÐ d ÐCircuit€Court€of€Shelby€County.€€For€the€reasons€stated€herein,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€decision.Ð  P ÐÔ#†¼ñ¤»XX¬è#ÔÔ‡X¬X»¼ñ¤ÔÌÓNÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmedó óÐ Ä"! ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼ñ¤»àX¬ #ÔÔ‡X¬X.¼ñ¤ÔAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.,€óó€and€òòHollyÐ œ$ì# ÐKirby€Lillard,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ˆ%Ø $ ÐÌMark€Allen,€Barclay€M.€Roberts,€Memphis,€for€AppellantsÐ `'°"& ÐÌHerbert€E.€Ô_ÔGersonÔ_Ô,€Thomas€J.€Walsh,€Jr.,€Kathleen€Ô_ÔSpruillÔ_Ô,€Memphis,€for€AppelleesÐ 8)ˆ$( ÐÓ  ÓÌò òÌÌÌOPINIONó óÔ#†¼ñ¤»XX¬Ï #ÔÔ‡X¬X»¼ñ¤ÔÐ Ô-$)-ý ЇòòóóÔ#†¼ñ¤»XX¬Ú #ÔÔ‡X¬X»¼ñ¤ÔÓ  Óò òà0  ààHàˆàHàˆà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àI.€€Facts€and€Procedural€Historyó óа(#(# ÐÌà  àThe€Appellant,€American€Federation€of€State,€County,€and€Municipal€Employees€Local€1733Ð ˆØ Ð(ð ðÔ_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ôðð€or€ð ðLocal€1733ðð),€is€an€unincorporated€labor€organization€engaged€in€the€representationÐ tÄ Ðof€employees€concerning€the€terms€and€conditions€of€their€employment.€€Local€1733€maintains€itsÐ `° Ðplace€of€business€in€Memphis,€Shelby€County,€Tennessee.€€The€Appellants,€Rick€Brown,€ElaineÐ L œ ÐÔ_ÔTidwellÔ_Ô,€Rosetta€Jones,€Ô_ÔPrentissÔ_Ô€Milton,€Joe€Ô_ÔEgglestonÔ_Ô,€and€Annette€Fletcher€(ð ðEmployeesðð),€areÐ 8 ˆ Ðemployees€of€the€Shelby€County€General€Sessions€Court€Clerkððs€office.€€€The€Appellee,€ShelbyÐ $ t ÐCounty€Government,€is€a€political€subdivision€of€the€State€of€Tennessee€and€operates€a€governmentalÐ  ` Ðentity€with€employees€having€a€place€of€business€at€the€Shelby€County€General€Sessions€CourtÐ ü L  ÐClerkððs€office.€€€Shelby€County€Government€operates€under€home€rule€as€contemplated€by€article€11,Ð è 8  Ðsection€9€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution.€€€The€Appellee,€Chris€Turner€(ð ðMr.€Turnerðð),€is€the€dulyÐ Ô$  Ðelected€Shelby€County€General€Sessions€Court€Clerk.€Ð À  ÐÌà  àOn€March€9,€1979,€the€then€mayor€of€Shelby€County,€William€N.€Morris,€Jr.€(ð ðMayorÐ ˜è  ÐMorrisðð),€issued€a€proclamation€establishing€a€procedure€for€the€recognition€of€collective€bargaining.€Ð „Ô  ÐThe€Shelby€County€Board€of€Commissioners€ratified€the€proclamation€by€resolution€of€June€18,€1979Ð pÀ Ð(ð ðthe€resolutionðð).€€On€June€25,€1979,€Mayor€Morris€signed€the€resolution.€€Since€that€time,€allÐ \¬ Ðproper€requests€for€collective€bargaining€pursuant€to€the€resolution€have€been€recognized€by€ShelbyÐ H˜ ÐCounty€Government.€Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àBy€letter€dated€July€31,€1996,€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€submitted€to€the€then€Shelby€County€GeneralÐ  \ ÐSessions€Court€Clerk,€John€Ford€(ð ðMr.€Fordðð),€a€request€for€recognition€as€the€collective€bargainingÐ øH Ðrepresentative€of€the€General€Sessions€Court€Clerkððs€employees€pursuant€to€the€resolution.€€OnÐ ä4 ÐAugust€1,€1996,€Shelby€County€elections€were€held,€and€Mr.€Turner€defeated€Mr.€Ford€to€becomeÐ Ð  Ðthe€new€General€Sessions€Court€Clerk,€effective€September€1,€1996.€€By€letter€dated€August€8,€1996,Ð ¼  ÐÔ_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€amended€its€July€31,€1996€letter€and€requested€a€meeting€for€the€purpose€of€determiningÐ ¨ø Ðthe€adequacy€of€employee€interest€and€the€propriety€of€an€election.€€On€August€9,€1996,€Mr.€Ford€metÐ ”ä Ðwith€representatives€of€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô.€Mr.€Ford€reviewed€the€authorization€cards€signed€by€more€thanÐ €Ð Ðfifty€percent€of€the€General€Sessions€Court€Clerkððs€employees.€€Mr.€Ford€found€that€the€authorizationÐ l¼ Ðcards€were€valid€and€properly€executed€within€ninety€days€of€their€presentation€to€him.€€Mr.€FordÐ X ¨ Ðissued€a€Notice€of€Election€and€Order€of€Election€as€well€as€a€final€agreed€upon€ballot€and€aÐ D!” Ðdocument€describing€the€duties€of€the€observers€of€the€election.€Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àOn€August€14,€1996,€an€election€was€conducted€by€the€General€Sessions€Court€Clerkððs€officeÐ $X" Ðto€determine€whether€the€General€Sessions€Court€Clerkððs€non„Ô_ÔmangerialÔ_Ô€and€non„confidentialÐ ô$D # Ðemployees€chose€to€be€represented€by€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô.€€The€final€vote€count€was€a€total€of€eighty€votesÐ à%0!$ Ðin€favor€of€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€representation€and€twelve€votes€in€opposition.€€By€letter€dated€August€16,Ð Ì&"% Ð1996,€Mr.€Ford€recognized€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€as€the€exclusive€representative€of€the€General€Sessions€CourtÐ ¸'#& ÐClerkððs€non„managerial€and€non„confidential€employees.€€On€August€23,€1996,€negotiations€beganÐ ¤(ô#' Ðtowards€a€collective€bargaining€agreement.€€The€parties€reached€an€agreement€on€a€MemorandumÐ )à$( Ðof€Understanding,€and€the€agreement€was€ratified€by€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€on€August€28,€1996.€€€On€August€30,Ð |*Ì%) Ð1996,€the€agreement€was€executed€by€the€parties.€Ð h+¸&* Їà  àOn€September€1,€1996,€Mr.€Turner€took€office€as€the€new€Shelby€County€General€SessionsÐ ° ÐCourt€Clerk.€€On€September€16,€1996,€Dorothy€Crook€(ð ðMs.€Crookðð),€the€Executive€Director€ofÐ œì ÐLocal€1733,€met€with€Mr.€Turner€and€provided€him€with€a€copy€of€the€Memorandum€ofÐ ˆØ ÐUnderstanding.€€By€letter€dated€September€19,€1996,€Mr.€Turner€refused€to€recognize€theÐ tÄ ÐMemorandum€of€Understanding€and€refused€to€recognize€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€as€the€agent€for€the€GeneralÐ `° ÐSessions€Court€Clerkððs€employees.€Ð L œ ÐÌà  àOn€December€18,€1996,€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€filed€a€complaint€in€the€Circuit€Court€of€Shelby€CountyÐ $ t Ðagainst€Mr.€Turner€and€Shelby€County€Government.€€The€complaint€alleged€violations€of€Article€1,Ð  ` ÐSection€8€of€the€Tennessee€Constitution,€the€Equal€Protection€and€Due€Process€Clauses€of€theÐ ü L  ÐFourteenth€Amendment€to€the€United€States€Constitution,€the€First€Amendment€to€the€United€StatesÐ è 8  ÐConstitution,€and€breach€of€contract€under€Tennessee€law.€€On€January€31,€1997,€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€filed€anÐ Ô$  Ðamended€complaint€and€added€Employees€as€plaintiffs.€€On€February€17,€1997,€Shelby€CountyÐ À  ÐGovernment€and€Mr.€Turner€filed€answers€to€the€amended€complaint.€€On€June€22,€1999,€Mr.€TurnerÐ ¬ü  Ðand€Shelby€County€Government€and€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€and€Employees€filed€cross„motions€for€summaryÐ ˜è  Ðjudgment.€€The€hearing€on€the€cross„motions€for€summary€judgment€was€held€on€October€11,€1999.€Ð „Ô  ÐOn€July€18,€2000,€the€trial€court€granted€the€motion€for€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€Mr.€TurnerÐ pÀ Ðand€Shelby€County€Government.€€The€trial€court€held€that€Tennessee€public€policy€provides€thatÐ \¬ Ðpublic€employees€may€not€be€governed€by€a€collective€bargaining€agreement.€€This€appeal€followed.€Ð H˜ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àÌà@ìàò òII.€€Standard€of€Reviewó óˆÐ  p ÐÌà  àSummary€judgment€is€appropriate€if€the€Ô_ÔmovantÔ_Ô€demonstrates€that€no€genuine€issues€ofÐ øH Ðmaterial€fact€exist€and€that€he€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòSeeóó€òòTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.óóÐ ä4 Ð56.03.€€We€must€take€the€strongest€view€of€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€nonmoving€party,€allowingÐ Ð  Ðall€reasonable€inferences€in€his€favor€and€discarding€all€countervailing€evidence.€€òòSee€Ô_ÔShadrickÔ_Ô€v.Ð ¼  ÐÔ_ÔCokerÔ_Ôóó,€963€S.W.2d€726,€731€(Tenn.€1998)€(citing€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€210„11€(Tenn.Ð ¨ø Ð1993)).€€Since€our€review€concerns€only€questions€of€law,€we€review€the€record€òòde€novoóó€with€noÐ ”ä Ðpresumption€of€correctness€of€the€judgment€below.€€òòSeeóó€òòTenn.€R.€App.€P.óó€13(d);€òòÔ_ÔBainÔ_Ô€v.€Wellsóó,€936Ð €Ð ÐS.W.2d€618,€622€(Tenn.€1997).à h àà À àÐ l¼ ÐÌà@00ìàò òIII.€€Law€and€Analysisó óˆÐ D!” ÐÌà  àWe€must€determine€whether€the€trial€court€erred€by€granting€the€motion€for€summaryÐ #l! Ðjudgment€in€favor€of€Mr.€Turner€and€Shelby€County€Government.€€In€making€this€determination,€theÐ $X" Ðfollowing€issues€are€presented€for€our€review:Ð ô$D # ÐÌ1.€€Whether€Tennessee€public€policy€provides€that€public€employees€may€not€be€governed€by€aÐ Ì&"% Ðcollective€bargaining€agreement;Ð ¸'#& Ð2.€€Whether€a€home€rule€county€may€adopt€legislation€in€contravention€of€Tennessee€public€policy;€Ð ¤(ô#' Ð3.€€Whether€Mayor€Morrisðð€proclamation€and€the€Shelby€County€Commissionððs€resolution€boundÐ )à$( Ðâ âthe€General€Sessions€Court€Clerk;€and€Ð |*Ì%) Ð4.€€Whether€the€former€General€Sessions€Court€Clerk€lacked€the€power€to€bind€the€current€GeneralÐ ° Ðâ âSessions€Court€Clerk€to€a€collective€bargaining€agreement.Ð œì ÐÌWe€can€resolve€this€appeal€on€the€final€issue;€therefore,€we€decline€to€address€the€first€three€issuesÐ tÄ Ðpresented€for€our€review.€€Ð `° ÐÌà  àThe€sole€dispositive€issue€presented€for€our€review€is€whether€Mr.€Ford,€the€former€GeneralÐ 8 ˆ ÐSessions€Court€Clerk,€lacked€the€power€to€bind€Mr.€Turner,€the€current€General€Sessions€CourtÐ $ t ÐClerk,€to€a€collective€bargaining€agreement.€€The€Appellees€argue€that€Mr.€Ford€lacked€the€authorityÐ  ` Ðto€enter€into€a€collective€bargaining€agreement€which€extended€beyond€his€term€of€office.€€ShelbyÐ ü L  ÐCounty€elections€were€held€on€August€1,€1996€at€which€time€Mr.€Turner€defeated€the€incumbent,€Mr.Ð è 8  ÐFord,€to€become€the€General€Sessions€Court€Clerk,€effective€September€1,€1996.€€Between€AugustÐ Ô$  Ð1,€1996€and€September€1,€1996,€Mr.€Ford€recognized€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€as€the€exclusive€representative€ofÐ À  Ðthe€General€Sessions€Court€Clerkððs€non„managerial€and€non„confidential€employees.€€Mr.€FordÐ ¬ü  Ðnegotiated€with€the€Ô_ÔAFSCMEÔ_Ô€representative€and€assisted€in€drafting€the€Memorandum€ofÐ ˜è  ÐUnderstanding.€€Mr.€Ford€executed€the€collective€bargaining€agreement€two€days€before€Mr.€TurnerÐ „Ô  Ðtook€office.€€Upon€taking€office,€Mr.€Turner€refused€to€recognize€the€collective€bargainingÐ pÀ Ðagreement.€€€€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àA€prior€opinion€of€the€Tennessee€Attorney€General׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€addressed€the€authority€of€theÐ 4„ ÐCommissioner€of€Correction€to€enter€into€a€collective€bargaining€agreement€with€departmentalÐ  p Ðemployees.€€The€opinion€also€alluded€to€the€issue€whether€a€governmental€official€can€bind€hisÐ  \ Ðsuccessor€in€office€to€a€collective€bargaining€agreement.€€The€opinion€stated:Ð øH ÐÌà  àà ` àFurther,€it€is€important€to€recognize€that€governmental€officials€Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àshould€not€be€able€to€bind€the€State€or€their€successors€in€office€Ð ¼  Ðà  àà ` àunless€by€law.€€To€permit€a€commissioner€to€enter€into€a€multi„year€Ð ¨ø Ðà  àà ` àcollective€bargaining€agreement€which€could€last€beyond€his€termÐ ”ä Ðà  àà ` àwould€inappropriately€limit€the€discretion€and€scope€of€authorityÐ €Ð Ðà  àà ` àof€his€successor€whose€employment€philosophy€and€administrativeÐ l¼ Ðà  àà ` àgoals€may€differ€from€those€of€the€commissioner€who€negotiatesÐ X ¨ Ðà  àà ` àthe€contract.Ð D!” ÐÌOp.€Ô_ÔAttððyÔ_Ô€Gen.€78„437€at€*19€(Dec.€28,€1978).Ð #l! ÐAdditionally,€in€òòCox€v.€Greene€Countyóó,€175€S.W.2d€150,€151€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1943),€the€court€ofÐ $X" Ðappeals€discussed€the€problem€of€public€officers€entering€into€contracts€which€extend€beyond€theÐ ô$D # Ðterms€of€their€offices.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àà ` àð ðThe€power€of€public€officers€to€enter€into€contracts€which€extendÐ ¸'#& Ðà  àà ` àbeyond€the€terms€of€their€offices€depends€primarily€on€the€extent€of€Ð ¤(ô#' Ðà  àà ` àtheir€authority€under€the€law.€.€.€.€In€the€exercise€of€the€governmentalÐ ° Ðà  àà ` àor€legislative€powers,€a€board,€in€the€absence€of€statutory€provision,Ð œì Ðà  àà ` àcannot€make€a€contract€extending€beyond€its€own€term.€.€.€.€Obviously,Ð ˆØ Ðà  àà ` àcontracts€extending€beyond€the€terms€of€the€officers€extending€themÐ tÄ Ðà  àà ` àwill€be€held€invalid€where€the€making€of€contracts€tends€to€limit€orÐ `° Ðà  àà ` àdiminish€the€efficiency€of€those€who€will€succeed€the€incumbents€inÐ L œ Ðà  àà ` àoffice,€or€usurps€power€which€was€clearly€intended€to€be€given€to€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðà  àà ` àsuccessor.ððÐ $ t ÐÌòòSee€id.óó€at€151€(quoting€43€òòAm.€Ô_ÔJurÔ_Ô.óó€ðð€292).€Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àIn€the€case€at€bar,€the€collective€bargaining€agreement€executed€by€Mr.€Ford€shortly€beforeÐ Ô$  Ðhe€left€office€clearly€ð ðtends€to€limit€or€diminish€the€efficiencyðð€of€his€successor,€Mr.€Turner,€andÐ À  Ðð ðusurps€power€which€was€clearly€intended€to€be€givenðð€to€Mr.€Turner.€€Accordingly,€we€find€that€Mr.Ð ¬ü  ÐTurner€was€not€bound€by€the€collective€bargaining€agreement€executed€by€his€predecessor,€Mr.€Ford.€Ð ˜è  ÐWe€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€decision€granting€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€the€Appellees.Ð „Ô  Ðà  àÌà@SS#ìàò òIV.€€Conclusionó óˆÐ \¬ ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€areÐ 4„ Ðtaxed€against€the€Appellants,€American€Federation€of€State,€County,€and€Municipal€Employees,Ð  p ÐLocal€1733,€Rick€Brown,€Elaine€Ô_ÔTidwellÔ_Ô,€Rosetta€Jones,€Ô_ÔPrentissÔ_Ô€Milton,€Joe€Ô_ÔEgglestonÔ_Ô,€and€AnnetteÐ  \ ÐFletcher,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ô#†¼ñ¤»XX¬<#ÔÔ‡X¬X»¼ñ¤Ôò òà@ìì*ìàó óÔ#†¼ñ¤»XX¬³H#ԈРøH ÐÌÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à____________________________Ð >Ž Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÔ‡X¬X»¼ñ¤ÔALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÔ#†¼ñ¤»XX¬J#Ô