§ 20-8 General powers.

To make all such preliminary investigations and to do all such preliminary work as should, in its judgment, precede the actual projection, construction and establishment of said system of sewerage.

To project and adopt such a system of sewerage as it may deem best calculated to promote the objects of this subheading.

To construct and establish all such local, district, lateral, intercepting, outfall or other sewers, and all such conduits, drains and pumping or other plants, and all such buildings, structures, works, apparatus or agencies, and to lay all such mains and pipes and to create or use, or create and use, all such instrumentalities and means, within the City of Baltimore, or any counties of the State, including submerged as well as other lands, as it may deem expedient for carrying said system of sewerage, projected and adopted as aforesaid into full effect. Said commission is hereby specially empowered to lay or construct, and the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to maintain, without compensation to the State, any part or parts of said system of sewerage, or of its works or appurtenances, over or upon any part or parts of the bed of the Patapsco River or its branches, or of any land covered by any of the navigable waters of this State, the title to which is held by this State, and if the same be deemed advisable by the said commission, the Governor of Maryland is hereby authorized and directed, upon the application of the said commission, to execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore such deed or deeds as may be proper for the purpose of fully confirming this grant.

To incorporate with said system of sewerage or otherwise utilize for the purpose of this subheading, so far as it may deem expedient, any or all existing public sewers or drains, including storm water sewers and drains, in the City of Baltimore, and any and all of their appurtenances, either in their present condition or with such repairs, modifications or changes as said commission may see fit to make, and to condemn, close up, abolish or destroy, in its discretion, any or all such existing public sewers and drains, or to alter their functions, or to increase their burdens, as it may think best.

To appoint or employ a chief engineer and such other professional or technical advisers and experts, and such agents, assistants, clerks, employees and laborers, skilled or unskilled, of all kinds, as it may deem requisite, for the due and proper execution of the duties devolved upon it by this subheading, or any of them, and to fix their respective compensations and to remove or discharge them at pleasure (except such highly trained, experienced or skilled individuals as it may agree to appoint or employ upon special terms for definite and fixed periods of time), and to exact from them such indemnity bonds for the proper performance of their respective duties, as it may deem proper.

To frame, promulgate and enforce such reasonable rules and regulations for its own government and for the supervision, protection, management and conduct of its work as it may believe expedient.

To make and enter in the name and on behalf of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore any and all contracts, agreements or stipulations germane to the scope of its duties and powers under <cite data-path="20">this subtitle</cite>.

To purchase, hire or otherwise lawfully obtain the use of all such machinery, tools, implements, appliances, supplies, materials and working agencies as it may need for its purposes; provided, however, that this enumeration of special powers shall not be construed as restricting in any degree the scope of the general powers hereinbefore conferred upon said commission; and provided, further, that said commission shall have no authority to construct and establish any sewerage system involving the discharge of sewage, as distinguished from storm water or ground drainage, into the Chesapeake Bay or any of its tributaries.