157-39.5. Consolidated housing authority.

If the governing body of each of two or more municipalities (with a population of less than 500, but having an aggregate population of more than 500) by resolution declares that there is a need for one housing authority for all of such municipalities to exercise in such municipalities the powers and other functions prescribed for a housing authority, a public body corporate and politic to be known as a consolidated housing authority (with such corporate name as it selects) shall thereupon exist for all of such municipalities and exercise its powers and other functions within its area of operation (as herein defined), including the power to undertake projects therein; and thereupon any housing authority created for any of such municipalities shall cease to exist except for the purpose of winding up its affairs and executing a deed of its real property to the consolidated housing authority: Provided, that the creation of a consolidated housing authority and the finding of need therefor shall be subject to the same provisions and limitations of this Housing Authorities Law as are applicable to the creation of a regional housing authority and that all of the provisions of this Housing Authorities Law applicable to regional housing authorities and the commissioners thereof shall be applicable to consolidated housing authorities and the commissioners thereof: Provided, further that the area of operation or boundaries of a consolidated housing authority shall include all of the territory within the boundaries of each municipality joining in the creation of such authority together with the territory within 10 miles of the boundaries of each such municipality, except that such area of operation may be changed to include or exclude any municipality or municipalities (with its aforesaid surrounding territory) in the same manner and under the same provisions as provided in this Article for changing the area of operation of a regional housing authority by including or excluding a contiguous county or counties: Provided, further, that for all such purposes the term "board of county commissioners" shall be construed as meaning "governing body" except in G.S. 157-36, where it shall be construed as meaning "mayor" or other executive head of the municipality, the term "county" shall be construed as meaning "municipality," the term "clerk" shall be construed as meaning "clerk of the municipality or officer with similar duties," the term "region" shall be construed as meaning "area of operation of the consolidated housing authority" and the terms "county housing authority" and "regional housing authority" shall be construed as meaning "housing authority of the city" and "consolidated housing authority," respectively, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context.

The governing body of any such municipality for which a housing authority has not been created may adopt the above resolution if it first determines that there is a need for a housing authority to function in said municipality, which determination shall be made in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as the determination required by G.S. 157-4 for the creation of a housing authority for a city: Provided, that after notice given by the clerk (or officer with similar duties) of the municipality, the governing body of the municipality may, without a petition therefor, hold a hearing to determine the need for a housing authority to function therein.

Except as otherwise provided herein, a consolidated housing authority and the commissioners thereof shall, within the area of operation of such consolidated housing authority have the same functions, rights, powers, duties, privileges, immunities and limitations as those provided for housing authorities created for cities, counties, or groups of counties and the commissioners of such housing authorities, in the same manner as though all the provisions of law applicable to housing authorities created for cities, counties, or groups of counties were applicable to consolidated housing authorities.