1494                             Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 830

(a)  to make or have made all surveys and plans necessary to the
carrying out of the purposes of this Article and to adopt or approve,
modify and amend such plans, which plans may include but shall not
be limited to: (1) plans for carrying out a program of voluntary
or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings and improve-
ments, (2) plans for the enforcement of codes and regulations re-
lating to the use of land and the use and occupancy of buildings and
improvements and to the compulsory repair, rehabilitation, demoli-
tion, or removal of buildings and improvements, and (3) appraisals,
title searches, surveys, studies, and other plans and work necessary
to prepare for the undertaking of urban renewal projects and related
activities; and to apply for, accept and utilize grants of funds from
the Federal Government for such purposes;

(b)  to prepare plans for the relocation of persons (including fami-
lies, business concerns and others) displaced from an urban renewal
area, and to make relocation payments to or with respect to such
persons for moving expenses and losses of property for which re-
imbursement or compensation is not otherwise made including the
making of such payments financed by the Federal Government;

(c)  to appropriate such funds and make expenditures as may be
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article and to levy taxes
and assessments for such purposes; to borrow money and to apply for
and accept advances, loans, grants, contributions and any other form
of financial assistance from the Federal Government, the State,
County or other public bodies, or from any sources, public or private,
for the purposes of this Article, and to give such security as may be
required therefor; to invest any urban renewal funds held in reserves
or sinking funds or any such funds not required for immediate dis-
bursement, in property or securities which are legal investments for
other municipal funds.

(d)  to hold, improve, clear or prepare for redevelopment any prop-
erty acquired in connection with urban renewal projects; to mort-
gage, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber such property;
to insure or provide for the insurance of such property or operations
of the municipality against any risks or hazards, including the power
to pay premiums on any such insurance;

(e)  to make and execute all contracts and other instruments neces-
sary or convenient to the exercise of its powers under this Article,
including the power to enter into agreements with other public bodies
or agencies (which agreements may extend over any period, not-
withstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary), and to
include in any contract for financial assistance with the Federal
Government for or with respect to an urban renewal project and
related activities such conditions imposed pursuant to Federal laws
as the municipality may deem reasonable and appropriate;

(f) to enter into any building or property in any urban renewal area
in order to make inspections, surveys, appraisals, soundings or test
borings, and to obtain an order for this purpose from the Circuit
Court for the county in which the municipality is situated in the event
entry is denied or resisted;

(g)   to plan, replan, install, construct, reconstruct, repair, close
or vacate streets, roads, sidewalks, public utilities, parks, play-