§ 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.