Section 847-C. Tug Hill commission powers and duties

The commission shall
  have the following powers and duties:
    1. To adopt and use a seal; to sue and be sued; to appoint and  remove
  officers,  agents  and  employees  and  determine  their qualifications,
  duties and compensation;  to  acquire,  hold  and  dispose  of  personal
  property;   to  retain  or  employ  counsel,  private  consultants,  and
  independent contractors; to make and execute  contracts  and  all  other
  instruments  necessary  or convenient for the exercise of its powers and
  functions under this article.
    2. To prepare, publish  and  disseminate  information  or  reports  to
  highlight  for state agencies, local governments, and the general public
  issues, problems, and opportunities relevant to the Tug Hill region,  in
  concert with state and federal agencies and others.
    3.  To  stimulate  action  by  public  and  private  organizations  on
  regionwide issues, problems and opportunities that affect the  Tug  Hill
  region,  with  primary emphasis on possible solutions at the local level
  and with attention to  the  ways  in  which  information  developed  and
  experience  gained  in  the  Tug  Hill  region  may  be  usefully shared
  elsewhere in New York state.
    4. To request and  receive  from  any  department,  division,  office,
  board,  bureau,  commission, agency, or instrumentality of the state and
  from any political subdivision or agency thereof,  such  assistance  and
  data  as  will  enable  it  to  conduct  its  studies and investigations
  hereunder.
    5. To assist local governments and other appropriate state  and  local
  organizations to plan and work for a positive future, and to do this, as
  far   as   possible,  through  intermunicipal  cooperation  and  through
  technical assistance, including planning assistance,  legal  assistance,
  training, citizen education and participation assistance, and assistance
  in preparation of grant applications to other entities.
    6. To serve a coordinating role in utilizing the capabilities of other
  organizations to carry out the duties prescribed in this section.
    7.  To  establish a central clearinghouse for technical studies, which
  may be used by members of  the  public,  local  governments,  and  state
  agencies  in  addressing  state and regionwide resource conservation and
  development issues.
    8. To develop agreements with local, county, or regional  agencies  to
  provide  staff  services;  through  grants  or contracts to help finance
  services for intermunicipal cooperation; to provide planning services in
  conjunction with  county  planning  departments  and  regional  planning
  boards,   and   to   provide   supplementary  technical  assistance  and
  educational services through public or private groups.
    9. To apply for and receive from the federal and state government  and
  public  and  private  agencies,  funds to accomplish the purposes of the
  commission and to solicit, receive and utilize gifts  and  donations  of
  any kind from any source.
    10.  To  assist municipalities in preparing and adopting comprehensive
  planning programs, including appropriate laws, ordinances and codes.
    11. To enter into agreements for  the  extension  of  its  powers  and
  duties  to  other  local  governments,  in concert with local, state and
  federal agencies and others.
    12. To lease and manage real  property,  solely  for  the  purpose  of
  providing for the official offices of said commission.