Any municipality may receive technical assistance from the Commissioner of Housing for the preparation of a capital improvement program. The legislative body of the municipality by resolution shall designate an appropriate agency of the municipality to prepare the capital improvement program, appropriate the necessary matching funds and authorize such agency to contract with the commissioner for technical assistance therefor as herein provided. If such municipality has a planning commission operating under the general statutes or special act, such planning commission shall be designated to be the contracting agency for such purposes.