§ 4008. Powers
An authority shall constitute a public body, corporate and politic, exercising public
and essential governmental functions, and having all the powers necessary or convenient
to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including
the following powers in addition to those herein granted:
(1) To sue and be sued; to have a seal and to alter it at pleasure; to have perpetual
succession; to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient
to the exercise of the powers of the authority; and to make and from time to time
amend and repeal bylaws, rules, and regulations, not inconsistent with this chapter,
to carry into effect the powers and purposes of the authority.
(2) Within its area of operations, to prepare, carry out, acquire, lease, and operate
housing projects; to provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration,
or repair of any housing project or any part thereof.
(3) To arrange or contract for the furnishing by any person or agency, public or private,
of services, privileges, works, or facilities for, or in connection with, a housing
project or the occupants thereof; and (notwithstanding anything to the contrary, contained
in this chapter, or in any other provisions of law) to include in any contract let
in connection with a project, stipulations requiring that the contractor and any subcontractors
comply with requirements as to minimum wages and maximum hours of labor and comply
with any conditions which the federal government may have attached to its financial
aid to the project.
(4) To lease or rent any dwellings, houses, accommodations, lands, buildings, structures,
or facilities embraced in any housing project and (subject to the limitations contained
in this chapter) to establish and revise the rents or charges therefore; to own, hold,
and improve real or personal property; to purchase, lease, obtain options upon, acquire
by gift, grant, bequest, devise, or otherwise any real or personal property or any
interest therein; to acquire by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any real
property; to sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, or dispose of any real
or personal property or any interest therein; to insure or provide for the insurance
of any real or personal property or operation of the authority against any risk or
hazards; to procure insurance or guarantees from the federal government of the payment
of any debts or part thereof (whether or not incurred by said authority) secured by
mortgages on any property included in any of its housing projects.
(5) To invest any funds held in reserve or sinking funds, or any funds not required for
immediate disbursement, in property or securities in which savings banks may legally
invest funds subject to their control; to purchase its bond at a price not more than
the principal amount thereof and accrued interest, all bonds so purchased to be cancelled.
(6) Within its area of operation: to investigate into living, dwelling, and housing conditions
and into the means and methods of improving the conditions; to determine where slum
areas exist or where there is a shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling accommodations
for persons of low income as well as elders who are of low income; to make studies
and recommendations relating to the problem of clearing, replanning, and reconstructing
of slum areas and to cooperate with all urban renewal agencies on the problem of providing
dwelling accommodations for persons of low income and to cooperate with the municipality,
the State, or any political subdivision thereof in action taken in connection with
such problem and to engage in research, studies, and experimentation of the subject
of housing.
(7) To exercise all or any part or combination of the powers granted in this section.
(8) To provide an adequate number of dwelling units, especially designed for occupation
by elders when a survey by the authority indicates a need therefor. Elders shall have
priority in the rental of such units.
(9) No law with respect to the acquisition, operation, or disposition of property by other
public bodies shall be applicable to an authority unless the Legislature shall specifically
so state.
(10) To administer, at its option, allocations of money made under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1437f. (Added 1961, No. 212, § 8, eff. July 11, 1961; amended 1975, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. March 26, 1976; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 159.)