A. Liberal Construction:
1. All general provisions, terms, phrases and expressions contained in this code shall be liberally construed in order that the true intent and meaning of the county council may be fully carried out.
2. In the construction of this code, and all ordinances mandatory thereof or hereafter enacted, the rules in this chapter shall be observed and applied, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of this code.
B. Minimum Requirements: In the interpretation and application of any provision of this code, it shall be held to be the minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety and general welfare.
C. Computation Of Time: The time within which an act is to be done as provided in any ordinance or in any resolution or order of this county, when expressed in days, shall be determined by excluding the first day and including the last day, except if the last day be a Sunday or a holiday, then the last day shall be the day next following such Sunday or holiday which is not a Sunday and all holidays shall be excluded.
D. Delegation Of Authority: Whenever a provision appears requiring the head of a department or some other county officer to do some act or perform some duty, it is to be construed to authorize the head of the department or other officer to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the required act or perform the duty unless the terms of the provision or section specify otherwise.
E. Gender: A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend and be applied to females and to firms, partnerships and corporations as well as to males.
F. Joint Authority: All words giving a joint authority to three (3) or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such persons or officers.
G. May/Shall: The word "may" is permissive; the word "shall" is mandatory.
H. Nontechnical And Technical Words: Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language, but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be construed and understood according to such meaning.
I. Number: A word importing the singular number only may extend and be applied to several persons and things as well as to one person and thing.
J. Officers And Employees: Whenever any officer or employee is referred by title, such reference shall be construed as if followed by the words "of Beaver County".
K. Tense: Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.
L. Ordinance: The word "ordinance" contained in the ordinances of the county has been changed in the content of this code to "title", "chapter", "section" and/or "subsection", or words of like import for organizational and clarification purposes only. Such change to the county's ordinances is not meant to amend passage and effective dates of such original ordinances. (2004 Code § 1-105; amd. 2015 Code)