Marvin Mandel, Governor                         993

projects of the Council in which such departments or agencies have
statutory functions and responsibilities. The Attorney General of
Maryland shall serve as legal advisor to the Council in all matters
pertaining to the Council's activities.

(4) Without in any manner limiting or restricting the general
powers conferred by this section, the Tri-County Council may:

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

(b)  sue [and be sued] , but it shall be immune from being sued;

(c)  adopt bylaws and make rules and regulations for the conduct
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 con-
tracts 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 section;

(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
existing and emerging problems of industry, commerce, transporta-
tion, population, housing, agriculture, public services, local govern-
ments, and any other matters which are relevant to regional
planning;

(k) collect, process, and analyze at regular intervals the social
and economic statistics for the region which are necessary to plan-
ning studies and make the results available to the general public;

(1) participate with other government agencies, educational in-
stitutions, and private organizations in the coordination of the
research activities defined above;

(m) cooperate with and provide planning assistance to county,
municipal, and other local governments, instrumentalities, or plan-
ning agencies within the region, and coordinate regional area plan-
ning with planning activities of the state and of the counties, munic-