In the construction of the Revised Ordinances the following rules shall control, excepting those inconsistent with the manifest intent of Council as disclosed in a particular provision, section or Code:
(a) Calendar - Computation of Time. The terms "month" and "year" shall 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, except if the last be Sunday it shall be excluded. If the time is expressed in hours, the whole of Sunday shall be excluded.
(Ord. 280-61. Passed 5-17-61.)
(Ord. 280-61. Passed 5-17-61.)
(b) Chief Executive. The "Chief Executive", "Officer" and "Head of the Administrative Agency" of the City is the Mayor of the City.
(Ord. 26-65. Passed 1-6-65.)
(Ord. 26-65. Passed 1-6-65.)
(c) City. The "City" is the City of Chillicothe.
(Ord. 280-61. Passed 5-17-61.)
(Ord. 280-61. Passed 5-17-61.)
(d) City Council. The "City Council" or "Council" is the legislative body established pursuant to the authority of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 731.
(Ord. 26-65. Passed 1-6-65.)
(e) Conjunctions. "And" shall include "or" and "or" shall include "and", if the sense so requires.
(Ord. 280-61. Passed 5-17-61.)
(Ord. 280-61. Passed 5-17-61.)
(f) Department Heads. "Department heads" shall be those persons appointed by the Mayor to serve as department heads of the various departments of the City.
(Ord. 26-65. Passed 1-6-65.)
(g) Departments. "Departments" shall be those divisions of the City government, either established by statute, or ordinance, which are headed by a department head.
(Ord. 26-65. Passed 1-6-65.)
(h) Gender. Words importing the masculine shall extend and be applied to the feminine and neuter genders.
(i) General Rule. Excepting as otherwise provided in this section, words and phrases shall be construed according to the common usage of language; provided, however, that technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a special meaning in the law shall be construed according to such technical or special meaning.
Whenever in the Revised Ordinances authority is given to an officer or an act is required to be performed, such authority may be exercised and such act may be performed, at the instance of such officer, by a deputy or subordinate unless contrary to law or to the clear intent of any such particular provision.
(j) Joint Authority. Words giving authority to a board, commission or to three or more Municipal officers or employees or other persons shall be construed as giving authority to a majority thereof, unless otherwise specifically provided.
(k) Number. Words in the plural shall include the singular and in the singular shall include the plural number.
(1) Owner. The word "owner" when applied to property shall include any part owner, joint owner or tenant in common, of the whole or any part of such property.
(m) Person. The word "person" shall extend to and be applied to associations, clubs, corporations, firms and partnerships, as well as to individuals.
(n) Premises. The word "premises" when used as applicable to property shall extend to and include land and buildings.
(o) Public authority. The term "public authority" shall extend to and include the Board of Education of the Municipality, the Municipality, the County Commissioners, the State of Ohio, the United States of America, and any duly authorized public official and to any duly constituted Public Authority or Commission established by Charter, ordinance or law.
(p) Property. The word "property" shall include real and personal, and any mixed and lesser estates or interests therein; the words "personal property" shall include every kind of property except real property; and the words "real property" shall include lands, tenements and hereditaments.
(q) 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 such time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of such act or giving of such notice.
(r) Sidewalk. The term "sidewalk" shall mean that portion of the street, located between the curb line and the line of the next adjacent property intended for use by pedestrians.
(s) Street. The word "street" shall be construed to include alleys, avenues, boulevards, lanes, roads, streets and other public ways in the Municipality.
(t) Tenant or occupant. The words "tenant" or "occupant" as applied to a building 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.
(u) Tenses. The use of any verb in the present tense shall include the future.