(A) Rules of interpretation.
(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, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE. All departments and the personnel thereof established by the Borough Code or ordinance.
ADOPTING ORDINANCE. The ordinance of the Borough of Bedford adopting the Codified Ordinances of Bedford, Pennsylvania, in accordance with the Borough Code of Pennsylvania.
AND. May be read OR, and OR may be read AND, if the sense requires it.
AUTHORITY. Whenever in this code, authority is given to an officer or an act is required to be performed, the authority may be exercised and the act may be performed, at the instance of the officer, by a deputy or subordinate, unless contrary to law or to the clear intent of any particular provision.
BOROUGH and MUNICIPALITY. The Borough of Bedford, Pennsylvania.
BOROUGH CODE. Pub. Law 432, of 2014, No. 37, effective June 17, 2014, being 8 Pa.C.S. §§ 101 et seq., as amended.
BUDGET. The annual budget of the borough.
CALENDAR/COMPUTATION OF TIME. The terms MONTH and YEAR mean the CALENDAR MONTH or YEAR. The time expressed in days within which an act is to be done or a period is to expire shall be computed by excluding the first and including the last day, unless the last day is a Sunday, in which case it shall be excluded. If time is expressed in hours, the whole of Sunday shall be excluded.
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION. The management of the execution of contracts between the borough and any individual, partnership, association, corporation, or governmental body.
COUNCIL. The Council of the Borough of Bedford, Pennsylvania.
COUNTY. The County of Bedford, Pennsylvania.
ENGINEER. The engineer of the borough.
KEEPER and PROPRIETOR. Persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs, and copartnerships, whether acting by themselves or as a servant, agent, or employee.
LAND/REAL ESTATE. Includes rights and easements of an incorporeal nature.
LAW. All applicable laws and ordinances of the United States of America, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the County of Bedford.
MANAGER and BOROUGH MANAGER. The chief administrative officer as appointed by the Borough Council.
OATH. Includes AFFIRMATION. When an oath is required or authorized by law, an affirmation in lieu thereof may be taken by a person having conscientious scruples about taking an OATH. An AFFIRMATION shall have the same effect as an OATH.
ORDINANCE. Any ordinance of the Borough of Bedford, including this code.
OWNER. When applied to property, includes a part owner, joint owner, or tenant in common of the whole or any part of the property.
PERSON. An individual, association, club, corporation, firm, partnership, body politic, or any other legal entity.
PREMISES. When used as applicable to property, extends to and includes land and buildings.
PROPERTY. Includes real and personal property and any mixed and lesser estates or interests therein. PERSONAL PROPERTY includes every kind of property except REAL PROPERTY. REAL PROPERTY includes lands, tenements, and hereditaments.
REASONABLE TIME. In all cases where provision is made for an act to be done or notice to be given within a REASONABLE TIME, it shall be deemed to mean the time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of the act or the giving of the notice.
SECRETARY and BOROUGH SECRETARY. An appointed position charged with the responsibility for taking meeting minutes; recording and certifying ordinances; attesting to the execution of documents; and is the custodian of borough records and the borough seal. The BOROUGH SECRETARY shall not be a member of the Borough Council and serves an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Borough Council.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians, excluding parkways.
SOLICITOR. The Solicitor of the borough.
STATE and COMMONWEALTH. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
STREET. Alleys, avenues, boulevards, lanes, roads, streets, state highways, and other public ways in the borough.
TENANT and OCCUPANT. As applied to buildings or land, shall extend and be applied to any person holding a written or oral lease of, or who occupies the whole or any part of, a building or land, alone or with others.
TIME. Whenever any time established in the codified ordinances for the taking of any action expires on a Sunday or legal holiday, the time shall not expire on the day but shall expire on the next week day.