§8-26A-5. Powers and duties of commission.

Any such commission shall be authorized, but not required, within the jurisdictional limits of the municipality or county, as the case may be, and within the limits of available funds, to:

(a) Make a survey of, and designate as historic landmarks, buildings, structures and districts which constitute the principal historical and architectural sites which are of local, regional, statewide or national significance in accordance with section six of this article;

(b) Prepare a register of buildings, structures, sites and districts which meet the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, publish lists of such properties and, with the consent of the property owners, inspect such properties from time to time and publish a register thereof from time to time setting forth appropriate information concerning the registered buildings, structures, sites and districts;

(c) Review applications for certificates of appropriateness and grant or deny the same in accordance with section seven of this article;

(d) With the consent of the property owners, mark with appropriately designed markers, buildings, structures and sites which it has registered;

(e) Establish standards for the care and management of designated historic landmarks and withdraw such certification for failure to maintain the standards so prescribed;

(f) Acquire by purchase, gift or lease and administer registered landmarks and easements and interests therein, both real and personal;

(g) Lease or sell property so acquired under terms and conditions designed to ensure the proper preservation of the historic landmark in question;

(h) Aid and encourage the municipality or county in which the district or landmark is located to adopt ordinances and resolutions for the preservation of landmarks and historic districts, their buildings, structures and character;

(i) Prepare and place historical markers on or along the highway or street closest to the location which is intended to be identified by such marker;

(j) Seek the advice and assistance of individuals, groups and departments and agencies of government who or which are conducting historical preservation programs and coordinate the same insofar as possible;

(k) Seek and accept gifts, bequests, endowments and funds from any and all sources for the accomplishment of the functions of the commission;

(l) Adopt rules and regulations concerning the operation of the commission, the functions and responsibilities of its officers, employees, assistants and other personnel and such other matters as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this article; and

(m) Adopt such other rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article, but no such rules and regulations shall be inconsistent with any plan of the planning commission of such municipality or county: Provided, That in no case shall such rules and regulations take precedence over locally adopted ordinances.