J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                       1629

(4) to hold, improve, clear or prepare for redevelopment any
property acquired in connection with urban renewal projects; to
mortgage, 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;

(5)   to make and execute all contracts and other instruments
necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers under this sub-
heading, including the power to enter into agreement with any other
public bodies or agencies (which agreements may extend over any
period, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary),
and to include in any contract for financial assistance with the Fed-
eral 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;

(6)   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;

(7)   to plan, replan, install, construct, reconstruct, repair, close
or vacate streets, roads, sidewalks, public utilities, parks, play-
grounds, and other public improvements in connection with an urban
renewal project; PROVIDED THE SAME SHALL BE APPROVED
BY THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLAN-
NING COMMISSION, and to make exceptions from building regula-
tions; CITY OR TOWN REGULATIONS, BUT NOT COUNTY
BUILDING REGULATIONS UNLESS THE SAME SHALL BE
APPROVED BY THE COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTOR;

(8)   to generally organize, coordinate and direct the administra-
tion of the provisions of this subheading as they apply to such
municipality in order that the objective of remedying slum and
blighted areas and preventing the causes thereof within such mu-
nicipality may be most effectively promoted and achieved;

(9)   to exercise all or any part or combination of powers herein
granted.

3. Establishment of Urban Renewal Agency

The municipality may itself exercise all the powers granted by
this subheading or may, if its legislative body by ordinance deter-
mines such action to be in the public interest, elect to have such
powers exercised by a separate public body or agency as hereinafter
provided. In the event said legislative body makes such determina-
tion, it shall proceed by ordinance to establish a public body or agency
to undertake in the municipality the activities authorized by this
subheading. Such ordinance shall include provisions establishing
the number of members of such public body or agency, the manner
of their appointment and removal, the terms of said members and
their compensation. The ordinance may include such additional pro-
visions relating to the organization of said public body or agency
as may be necessary. In the event the legislative body enacts such
an ordinance, all of the powers by this subheading granted to the