1652                               Laws of Maryland                         Ch. 573

and utilize effectively the assistance provided by the State. It shall
initiate and coordinate plans and projects for the development of
human and economic resources of the Southern Maryland region as
a Southern Maryland planning and development agency.

The Council will cooperate with the State departments and agen-
cies concerned, including, but not limited to the Department of
State Planning, Department of Economic Development, the State
Office of Economic Opportunity, the State Roads Commission and the
Department of Natural Resources, and submit for approval plans
and projects of the Council in which such departments or agencies
have statutory functions and responsibilities.

(3) Area of Jurisdiction. The area of operation of the Tri-County
Council shall be coterminous with the area of the Planning Region
as herein defined.

(4) Powers and Duties. Without in any manner limiting or re-
stricting the general powers conferred by this act, the Tri-County
Council may:

(a)  adopt and have a common seal and alter the same at pleasure;

(b)  sue and be sued;

(c)  adopt bylaws and make rules and regulations for the con-
duct of its business;

(d)  make and enter into all contracts or agreements necessary or
incidental to the performance of its duties;

(e)   borrow money and apply for and accept advances, loans,
grants, contributions and any other form of assistance from the
federal government, the state, or other public body, or from any
sources, public or private, for the purposes of this act, and give
such security as may be required and enter into and carry out
contracts or agreements in connection therewith; and include in any
contract for financial assistance with the federal government such
conditions imposed pursuant to federal laws as it may deem reason-
able and appropriate and which are not inconsistent with the pur-
poses of this act;

(f)  prepare a comprehensive regional plan and functional plans
for the guidance of the development of the Region;

(g)  as hereinafter provided, review any applications to agencies
of the state or Federal Government for loans or grants-in-aid for
projects by governmental subdivisions within the Region;

(h) review local plans, proposals for projects, and ordinances
having an impact outside the boundaries of the local government,
subdivisions and within the Planning Region;

(i) employ a director, engineers, attorneys, planners, consultants
and other employees, and prescribe their powers and duties and
fix their compensation;

(j) prepare studies of the region's resources with respect to exist-
ing and emerging problems of industry, commerce, transportation,
population, housing, agriculture, public services, local governments,
and any other matters which are relevant to regional planning;