(a)      The Council may:

            (1)      Adopt and alter an official seal;

            (2)      Sue, be sued, plead, and be impleaded, subject to the limitations of Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article;

            (3)      Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, adopt a charter, bylaws, regulations, and guidelines to carry out its powers to accomplish the purposes of the Council;

            (4)      Acquire, hold, lease, use, encumber, transfer, or dispose of any real, personal, or other property;

            (5)      Enter into contracts and leases of any kind and execute all instruments necessary or convenient to carry out its powers to accomplish the purposes of the Council;

            (6)      Hire and fire employees;

            (7)      Receive and accept from any private or public source any contribution, gift, grant of money, property, or any interest in property;

            (8)      Serve, in conjunction with the State Department of Transportation, as a metropolitan planning organization for federal funding and certification purposes;

            (9)      Exercise any corporate power granted to any State corporation under the Corporations and Associations Article; and

            (10)      Do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers granted by this article.

      (b)      The Council Charter shall include provisions for the admission and withdrawal of Council members.