(b) For the purposes enumerated in subsection (a) of this section, the authority is authorized and empowered to:
(1) Have perpetual succession as a body politic and corporate and to adopt procedures for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business, as provided in section 8-169kk;
(2) Adopt a corporate seal and alter the same at pleasure;
(3) Maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate;
(4) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded;
(5) Contract and be contracted with;
(6) (A) Employ such assistants, agents and other employees as may be necessary or desirable to carry out its purposes, which employees shall be exempt from the classified service and shall not be employees, as defined in subsection (b) of section 5-270; (B) establish all necessary or appropriate personnel practices and policies, including those relating to hiring, promotion, compensation, retirement and collective bargaining, which need not be in accordance with chapter 68. For the purposes of this subdivision, the authority shall not be an employer as defined in subsection (a) of section 5-270, and for the purposes of group welfare benefits and retirement, including, but not limited to, those provided under chapter 66 and sections 5-257 and 5-259, the officers and all other employees of the authority shall be state employees; and (C) engage consultants, attorneys and appraisers as may be necessary or desirable to carry out its purposes in accordance with sections 8-169ii to 8-169ss, inclusive;
(7) Acquire, lease, purchase, own, manage, hold and dispose of personal property, and lease, convey or deal in or enter into agreements with respect to such property on any terms necessary or incidental to carrying out the purposes set forth in this section;