HOUSING COMMISSION

Powers & Duties

The Housing Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

1) Make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the Housing Commission.

2) Make, and from time to time, amend and repeal bylaws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with the Code. When making rules, the Commission shall comply with the provisions of the Howard County Administrative Procedure Act.

3) Housing Developments: Within Howard County, the Commission may:

a) Prepare, carry out, acquire, own, lease and operate housing developments.

b) Provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration or repair of any housing development or any part of a housing development.

4) Housing Developments: Within Howard County the Housing Commission may:

a) Prepare, carry out, acquire, own, lease and operate housing developments

b) Prepare for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration or repair of any housing development or any part of a housing development.

5) Services and Facilities related to a housing development or its occupants: The Housing Commission may provide directly or arrange or contract for the furnishing by any person or agency, public or private, of services or facilities for or in connection with a housing development or its occupants, including drug rehabilitation, elderly or child day care or other social services.

6) The Housing Commission may include in any contract let in connection with a development, 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 State or Federal Governments may have.

7) The Housing Commission may make rent subsidy payments or mortgage subsidy payments to or on behalf of persons of eligible income.

8) The Housing Commission may lease or rent any dwellings, houses, accommodations, lands, buildings, structures or facilities embraced in any housing development and may establish and revise the rents or charges.

9) The Housing Commission may:

a) Own, hold and improve real or personal property.

b) Purchase, lease, obtain options upon, acquire by gift, grant, bequest, devise or otherwise any real or personal property.

c) Sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, or dispose any real or personal property or any interest therein

d) Insure or provide for the insurance of any real or personal property or operations of the Commission against any risks or hazards.

e) Procure insurance or guarantees from the stat or federal government of the payment of any debt or part thereof (whether or not incurred by the Commission) secured by mortgages on any property included in any of its housing projects.

10) The Housing Commission may invest any funds held in reserves 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 The Commission may purchase its bonds at a price not more than the principal amount thereof and accrued interest all bonds so purchased to be canceled.

11) The Commission may issue bonds in accordance with the provisions of subtitle 5 of the Housing Authorities Law

12) Investigations: The Commission may

a) Investigate into living, dwelling and housing conditions and into the means and methods of improving such conditions.

b) Determine where economically depressed or physically deteriorated areas exist or where there is a shortage of decent, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of eligible income.

c) Make studies and recommendations, relating to the problems of clearing re-planning and reconstructing of economically depressed or physically deteriorated areas and the problems of providing dwelling accommodations for person of eligible income and cooperate with the County, the State or any political subdivision in action taken in connection with such problems.

d) Engage in research, studies and experimentation on the subject of housing.

13) Conduct of Examinations: Acting through one or more commissioners or other person(s) designated by the Commission, the Commission may:

a) Conduct examinations, investigations and hear testimony and take proof at public or private hearings on any matter material for its information

b) Make available to appropriate agencies, its findings and recommendations with regard to any building or property where conditions exist which are dangerous to the public health, safety or welfare

14) Eminent Domain: Subject to the approval of the County Council and the County Executive:

a) The Commission may acquire the exercise of the power of eminent domain any real property which it deems necessary for its purposes in carrying out its assigned mission, after the Commission adopts a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the real property described is necessary for those purposes.

b) The Commission may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided in Title 12 of the Real Property Article of he Annotate Code of Maryland or it may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by any other applicable statutory provisions for the exercise of the power of eminent domain.

c) Property already devoted to a public use may be acquired in like manner, provided that no real property belonging to the County State or any other political subdivision maybe acquired without its consent.

15) Relationship with County, State or Federal Government: The purpose and intent of this is to authorize the Commission to do any and all things necessary or desirable to secure the financial aid or cooperation of the County, State, or Federal Government in the undertaking, construction, maintenance or operation of any housing development by the Commission. The Housing Commission may:

a) Borrow money or accept grants or other financial assistance from the County, State, or Federal Government and accept grants from nongovernmental sources for or in aid of any housing project within Howard County

b) Take over or lease or manage any housing development or undertaking constructed, financed or owned by the County, State or Federal Government and to these ends, comply with such conditions and enter into such mortgages, trust indentures, leases or agreements as my be necessary, convenient or desirable.

16) Income Mix in Housing Developments: Subject to restrictions contained in any applicable agreement with the State or Federal government or any other party, the Housing Commission may permit up to 80% of the residents of any housing development or any portion thereof financed by the Commission to have incomes above the levels established for persons with eligible income.

17) The Housing Commission may act and invest as a general partner and as a limited partner in housing developments.