NY Gen Mun L § 554 (2021)
2021 New York Laws GMU - General Municipal Article 15-A - Municipal Urban Renewal Agencies, Organization and Powers 554 - Powers of an Agency.

§  554.  Powers  of  an  agency.  Subject to the provisions of article   fifteen of this chapter, an agency is authorized to plan  and  undertake   one  or  more urban renewal projects and shall have the powers necessary   or convenient to carry out and effectuate such project or  projects  and   the  purposes and provisions of this article and article fifteen of this   chapter, including but not limited to the following powers: (1)  to  sue   and  be  sued; (2) to have a seal and alter the same at pleasure; (3) to   have perpetual succession; (4) to make and  execute  contracts  and  all   other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers   and  functions;  (5)  to make and alter by-laws for its organization and   internal management; (6) to acquire or  contract  to  acquire  from  any   person, firm, corporation or government, by subsidy, contribution, gift,   grant,  bequest,  devise,  purchase,  pursuant  to the provisions of the   eminent domain procedure law, or otherwise, real or personal property or   any interest therein, including but  not  limited  to  air  rights,  and   easements or other rights of user, necessary for the use and development   of  such  air  rights,  to  be  developed  as  air  rights sites for the   elimination of the blighting influences over an area or areas consisting   principally of land in  streets,  alleys,  highways,  and  other  public   rights  of way, railway or subway tracks, bridge or tunnel approaches or   entrances, or other similar facilities which have a blighting  influence   on  the  surrounding  area  and  over  which  air rights sites are to be   developed for the elimination of such  blighting  influences,  provided,   however,  that  the  acquisition of any air rights over railroad tracks,   rights-of-way or facilities  and  easements  or  other  rights  of  user   necessary  for  the  use  and  development  of such air rights are to be   subject to the provisions of section fifty-one-a of  the  railroad  law;   (7)  to  appoint officers, agents and employees, prescribe their duties,   fix their compensation and delegate to one or  more  of  such  officers,   agents  or  employees  such  powers or duties as it may deem proper; (8)   with the consent of the  municipality  to  use  agents,  employees,  and   facilities  of  the  municipality, paying to the municipality its agreed   proportion of the compensation or costs; (9) to insure  or  provide  for   the  insurance of its property or operations as required by law and also   against such other risks as it may deem advisable; (10)  to  invest  any   moneys  held  in reserve or sinking funds or any moneys not required for   immediate use or  disbursement  at  the  discretion  of  the  agency  in   obligations  of the state or the United States government or obligations   of which the principal and interest are guaranteed by the state  or  the   United  States government; (11) to cooperate with the federal government   and  apply  for  and  accept   advances,   loans,   grants,   subsidies,   contributions  and  any  other  form  of  financial  assistance from the   federal government, or from the state,  county,  municipality  or  other   public  body  or from any sources public or private, for the purposes of   this article and article fifteen of  this  chapter;  and  to  give  such   security as may be required and to enter into and carry out contracts or   agreements   in   connection  therewith;  provided,  however,  that  any   application for a loan, subsidy or grant to the  federal  government  or   the  state shall be subject to the prior approval of the governing body;   and to include in any contract for financial assistance with the federal   government for or with respect to an  urban  renewal  project,  or  with   respect to any other program authorized under the federal housing act of   nineteen  hundred  forty-nine, and all other federal laws amendatory and   supplemental thereto, such conditions imposed pursuant to  federal  laws   as  the  agency  may  deem  reasonable and appropriate and which are not   inconsistent with the purposes of this article  or  article  fifteen  of   this  chapter.  Such  conditions may include but shall not be limited to   (a) provisions requiring payments  of  not  less  than  certain  minimum    salaries  and  wages  to  architects,  engineers, technicians, laborers,   mechanics and other personnel; (b) provisions  prohibiting  rebates  and   kickbacks;  and  (c) provisions requiring contractors and subcontractors   to  furnish  reports  and  other  data  to  the  secretary of labor; (d)   provisions requiring payment of actual  reasonable  moving  and  related   expenses   as   well   as   supplemental  and  additional  payments,  to   individuals, families, business concerns or non-profit organizations due   to displacement, so that disproportionate injuries are not suffered as a   result of such program, as may be required by and pursuant to a  federal   financial  assistance  contract.  (12) to apply for and accept the local   grants-in-aid  required  under  such  federal  laws,  in  the  form   of   appropriations,  cash,  municipal  services and facilities, or any other   form; (13) to borrow money and issue bonds or other obligations; (14) to   provide  for  demolition  and  clearance  of  property,  improvement  of   property, or development and use of air rights and concomitant easements   or  other  rights  of user necessary for the use and development of such   air rights and air rights sites, including the remedying  of  unsuitable   topographical,   subsoil  or  other  physical  conditions  which  impede   development  within  the  urban  renewal  area,  and   construction   of   foundations  and  platforms  as well as other necessary sitework, by the   agency or by the municipality or by the persons, firm or corporation  to   whom such property, air rights and easements or air rights site, is sold   or  leased,  provided,  however,  that  any  such work upon or affecting   railroad property, right-of-way or facilities shall be  subject  to  the   approval  of  and joint supervision by the railroad company or companies   affected. No work upon or affecting railroad property,  right-of-way  or   facilities  shall  be  progressed  without  the approval of the railroad   company or companies, and in connection with all such projects  upon  or   affecting  railroad  property,  right-of-way  or  facilities appropriate   standards for safety of operations, ventilation and  lighting  shall  be   subject  to  the approval of the railroad company or companies affected;   (15) to develop, test and report methods and techniques  and  carry  out   demonstration  and other activities in relation to or in connection with   one or more programs of urban renewal or other programs relating to  the   arrest  and  prevention  of  conditions  of  deterioration or blight. In   carrying out such demonstration  and  other  activities  an  agency  may   itself  reconstruct, repair, rehabilitate or otherwise improve such real   property or may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of real  property,  for   the  effectuation  of  such  activities  or purposes by the purchaser or   lessee thereof, pursuant to  the  provisions  of  section  five  hundred   fifty-six  of  this  article;  (16) to prepare or cause to be prepared a   general neighborhood renewal plan for an area  consisting  of  an  urban   renewal  area  or  areas,  together  with  any  adjoining  areas  having   specially related problems, and which is of such size that urban renewal   activities may have to be initiated in stages; (17) to prepare or  cause   to  be prepared a community-wide plan or program for urban renewal which   shall conform to the comprehensive community plan for the development of   the  municipality  as  a  whole;  (18)  to  conduct   examinations   and   investigations,  hear  testimony and take proof, under oath at public or   private hearings on any material matters. (19) to convey, assign,  grant   or  otherwise transfer all of its right, title and interest in any urban   renewal program, or part thereof, or any right, title or interest in  or   to  any  real  or  personal  property, contract, claim or other interest   acquired or held by it in connection with such program, or part thereof,   with or without consideration, to the municipality, subject to the prior   approval of the governing body, upon such terms and conditions as may be   reasonable and appropriate to effectuate such transfer not  inconsistent   with  the purposes of this article or article fifteen of this chapter or    any contract for financial assistance from the  federal  government,  or   from  the  state  or  other public body, for any of the purposes of such   articles or either of them.