(A) Rules of interpretation. This code shall be construed by the following rules unless the construction is plainly repugnant to the legislative intent or context of the provision.
(1) Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, ordinary and usual sense. Technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(2) Words imputing joint authority to three or more persons shall be construed as imputing authority to a majority of the persons, unless otherwise declared in the section giving the authority.
(3) Where a section requires an act to be done which, by law, an agent or deputy may perform in addition to the principal, the performance of the act by an authorized deputy or agent is valid.
(4) Words denoting the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter genders; words in the singular shall include the plural, and words in the plural shall include the singular; the use of a verb in the present tense shall include the future, if applicable.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this code of ordinances, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CLERK-TREASURER. The Clerk-Treasurer of the Town Council.
COUNCIL. The Town Council.
COUNTY. The County of Boone, Indiana.
HIGHWAY. Includes bridges, roads and streets, unless otherwise expressly provided.
LAW. When used in reference or respect to any matter, any provision of the United States or Indiana Constitutions, federal or state statute, any applicable and enforceable federal or state regulations or administrative law, any applicable local ordinance or enforceable regulation and the common law.
MONTH. One calendar month.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee, receiver and bodies politic. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, the terms PERSON or WHOEVER, as applied to any unincorporated entity, shall mean the partners or members thereof and, as applied to corporations, the officers or agents thereof.
PRECEDING and FOLLOWING. When referring to sections or divisions in this code, refer to the sections or divisions next following or next preceding that in which the words occur, unless some other section is designated.
TOWN.
(a) Used in a governmental or corporate sense: the Civil Town of Advance, Indiana, a municipal corporation and body politic organized under the laws of the state; and includes, with respect to any particular matter and by representation, its Council or such other officials, boards, commissions, departments, agencies or other authorities empowered to exercise governmental or corporate authority on behalf of the Civil Town of Advance with respect to such particular matters.
(b) Used in a territorial or geographic sense: the area included within the lawful municipal boundaries of the Civil Town of Advance at that time in question, irrespective of the boundaries in existence at the time this code or any included provision or amendment takes effect; but with respect to any particular matter over which the Civil Town of Advance exercises any governmental or corporate jurisdiction beyond such municipal boundaries under authority of any law or an intergovernmental cooperative agreement, the term shall also include the area within such extraterritorial jurisdiction.
WRITTEN and IN WRITING. Include printing, lithographing or other modes of representing words and letters. Where the written signature of a person is required, the terms mean the proper handwriting of the person or the person’s mark.
YEAR. One calendar year, unless otherwise expressly provided.
(I.C. 1-1-4-5) (Prior Code, § 1-2-1)