(a)      (1)      In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

            (2)      "Housing or housing projects" means an undertaking or project, or a portion of it, including lands, buildings, and improvements, real, mixed, and personal properties, or an interest in them that is planned, acquired, owned, developed, constructed, reconstructed, rehabilitated, or improved for the purpose of providing dwelling accommodations for persons of eligible income, streets, roads, sewer and waterlines, and other supporting public and private facilities intended for commercial, educational, cultural, recreational, community, or other civic purposes as may be deemed necessary for sound community development.

            (3)      "Persons of eligible income" means persons who individually or as part of a family unit lack sufficient income or assets to enable them, without financial assistance, to live in decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings without overcrowding.

      (b)      (1)      The Board of County Commissioners of Queen Anne's County:

                  (i)      Shall adopt policies, regulations, or amendments that are necessary for the implementation of:

                        1.      Federally or State assisted housing programs; and

                        2.      Locally funded housing programs undertaken pursuant to this article;

                  (ii)      Shall review and approve all projects proposed by the Queen Anne's County Housing Authority prior to commencement of the project;

                  (iii)      Shall establish an upper income limit; and

                  (iv)      In the case of special projects, may establish exceptions to the upper income limits.

            (2)      This subsection shall be inapplicable if its application would disqualify the State or any county from receiving any federal funds.

      (c)      Subject to the authority of the Board of County Commissioners as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, the Queen Anne's County Housing Authority, in addition to the powers enumerated in this article and provided by law, may:

            (1)      Make mortgage loans and make rent subsidy payments to persons of eligible income;

            (2)      Make construction loans and long-term mortgage loans to any person, firm, partnership, association, joint venture, or corporation, public or private, to produce housing for persons of eligible income; or

            (3)      Waive income limits for persons 65 years of age or older.

      (d)      (1)      In addition to the powers enumerated in this article, the Authority may exercise its powers as granted by this article irrespective of the fact that activities may displace or limit economic competition.

            (2)      The powers granted to the Authority pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be construed:

                  (i)      To grant to the Authority powers in a substantive area not otherwise granted to the Authority by other public general or public local law;

                  (ii)      To restrict the Authority from exercising power granted to the Authority by other public general or public local law or otherwise;

                  (iii)      To authorize the Authority or its officers to engage in an activity which is beyond their power under other public general law, public local law, or otherwise; or

                  (iv)      To preempt or supersede the regulatory authority of any State department or agency under any public general law.

      (e)      Bonds of the Housing Authority of Queen Anne's County may be sold either at public or private sale in the manner and upon the terms as are authorized by resolution of the Authority.