(A) General rule. Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain or ordinary and usual sense; however, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALDERMAN. A member of the Council of the city and shall include the term “Council member”.
CITY. The City of Clifton, in the County of Bosque and State of Texas.
CITY OFFICERS, AGENCIES. The terms “City Administrator”, “City Secretary”, “Mayor”, “Chief of Police” or other city officers, employees, departments, boards, commissions or agencies shall be construed to mean the city’s Secretary, Mayor, Chief of Police or such other municipal officers, employees, departments, boards, commissions or agencies, respectively, of the city.
CODE,THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This municipal code as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
COUNCIL. The City Council of the City of Clifton, Texas.
COUNTY. Bosque County, Texas.
EXTRA TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION (ETJ). The area lying outside and within one-half mile of any contiguous boundary of the city.
HIGHWAY. The width between the boundary lines of a publicly-maintained way any part of which is open to the public for vehicular travel.
JOINT AUTHORITY. Terms purporting to give authority to three or more officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons, unless it is otherwise declared.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH. An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath and, in such cases, the words SWEAR and SWORN shall be equivalent to the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED.
OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office, employee, commission or department of this municipality unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
OWNER. Applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the whole or of a part of such building or land.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee or receiver. 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 or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
ROADWAY. The portion of a highway, other than the berm or shoulder, that is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. If a highway includes at least two separate roadways, the term applies to each ROADWAY separately.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of the street between the curb, or the lateral line of the roadway and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of Texas.
SUBCHAPTER. A division of a chapter, designated in this code by a heading in the chapter analysis and a capitalized heading in the body of the chapter, setting apart a group of sections related by the subject matter of the heading. Not all chapters have SUBCHAPTERS.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.
(2012 Code, § 1-2)