Section 1115-C. General powers of the authority

The authority shall have
  the power:
    1. To sue and be sued;
    2. To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;
    3. To borrow money and issue bonds or other obligations and to provide
  for the rights of the holders thereof;
    4. To enter into contracts and to execute all instruments necessary or
  convenient or desirable for the purposes of the authority to  carry  out
  any powers expressly given it in this title;
    5.  To enter into agreements with the water board and the city for the
  financing by the authority of projects as herein provided;
    6. To acquire, by purchase, gift, grant, transfer, contract  or  lease
  or  by  condemnation pursuant to the eminent domain procedure law, lease
  as lessee, hold, and use any real or personal property or  any  interest
  therein, as the authority may deem necessary, convenient or desirable to
  carry  out  the  purpose of this title, provided, however, the authority
  may not  condemn  real  property  of  the  city,  or  of  any  municipal
  corporation  or  district  corporation,  as  such  terms  are defined in
  section sixty-six of the general construction law, without  the  consent
  of  the city, or any such municipal corporation or district corporation,
  as the case may be; and, provided, further however, that  the  authority
  may  not  exercise  the  power  of  eminent  domain with respect to real
  property outside the city which is owned by any individual, partnership,
  corporation  (other   than   a   municipal   corporation   or   district
  corporation),  association,  trust,  or legal entity without the consent
  of: (a) the governing body of a city, other than the city of Albany,  if
  such  real  property is wholly located within such city, or (b) the town
  board if such real property is wholly located within such town,  or  (c)
  the  governing  body  of  a city, other than the city of Albany, and the
  town board if such real property is partly located within such city  and
  partly  located within such town; and to sell, lease as lessor, transfer
  and dispose of any property or interest therein at any time required  by
  it in the exercise of its powers;
    7.  To  make  and  amend  by-laws  for  its  organization and internal
  management, and rules and regulations  governing  the  exercise  of  its
  powers  and  the fulfillment of its purposes under this title. A copy of
  such rules, regulations and by-laws, and all  amendments  thereto,  duly
  certified by the secretary of the authority shall be filed in the office
  of the clerk of the city;
    8.  To apply to the appropriate agencies and officials of the federal,
  state and local governments for such licenses, permits or  approvals  of
  its  plans  or  projects as it may deem necessary or advisable, and upon
  such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, and to accept,  in
  its  discretion,  such licenses, permits or approvals as may be tendered
  to it by such agencies and officials;
    9. To appoint such officers and employees  as  are  required  for  the
  performance   of   its   duties,   and   to   fix  and  determine  their
  qualifications, duties and compensation subject  to  provisions  of  the
  civil  service  law and the rules of the civil service commission of the
  city, and to retain or employ counsel, auditors, engineers  and  private
  consultants  on a contract basis or otherwise for rendering professional
  or technical services and advice;
    10. To make plans and studies necessary, convenient or  desirable  for
  the  effectuation  of  the  purposes  and powers of the authority and to
  prepare recommendations in regard thereto;
    11. To make use of existing studies, surveys, plans,  data  and  other
  material  in the possession of any state agency, any municipality or the
  water board in order to avoid duplication of effort;

    12. To enter upon such lands, waters or premises as in the judgment of
  the authority shall be necessary for  the  purpose  of  making  surveys,
  soundings, borings and examinations to accomplish any purpose authorized
  by this title, the authority being liable only for actual damage done;
    13.  To  apply for and to accept any gifts or grants or loans of funds
  or property or financial or other aid  in  any  form  from  the  federal
  government  or  any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from the state
  or any agency or instrumentality thereof or from any other  source,  for
  any  or  all  of  the  purposes  specified in this title, and to comply,
  subject to the provisions of this title, with the terms  and  conditions
  thereof; and
    14.  To  do all things necessary, convenient or desirable to carry out
  its purposes and for the exercise of the powers granted in  this  title;
  provided  that  the  authority shall not have power, within the city, to
  collect rentals,  charges,  rates  or  fees  from  the  owners  of  real
  property, or the occupants of real property (other than the occupants of
  premises  owned  or  controlled  by  the  authority),  for  services  or
  facilities furnished or supplied in connection with such real  property,
  if  such  services  or  facilities  are of a character or nature then or
  formerly furnished or supplied by the city.