(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 person elected or appointed to serve as the Clerk-Treasurer of the Town of Cloverdale, Indiana.
COMPUTATION OF TIME. The time within which an act required to be done and is to be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day, unless the last day is Sunday or a holiday, in which case it shall also be excluded.
COUNCIL. The Town Council, formerly known as the Board of Trustees.
COUNTY. Putnam County.
HIGHWAY. Includes bridges, roads, and streets, see I.C. 9-13-2-73.
INDIANA CODE or I.C. The Indiana Code, as passed and approved by the Indiana legislature and published as the Indiana Code.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. One calendar month.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Any motorized vehicle of any nature whatsoever including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, tractors, motorcycles, motor- driven cycles class A and class B, and all terrain vehicles.
MUST. The act referred to is mandatory.
OATH. An affirmation of declaration 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”.
OWNER. Applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant, tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of such building or land.
PERSON.
(a) Extends to, and includes, person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee, receiver, and bodies politic.
(b) 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.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Every kind of property except real property.
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.
PROPERTY. Real and personal property.
PUBLIC PLACE. Any street or highway, sidewalk, park, cemetery, school yard, or open space adjacent thereto and any lake or stream.
REAL PROPERTY. Lands, tenements, and hereditaments.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIDEWALK. The portion of the street between the curb line 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 Indiana.
STREET. All streets, highways, avenues, boulevards, lanes, courts, squares, roads, alleys, viaducts, or other public ways in the town which have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use.
SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY INTEREST. Any right in real property that may be affected in a substantial way by actions authorized by planning and development laws of the state including a fee interest, a life estate, a future interest, a present possessory interest, or an equitable interest of a contract purchaser. I.C. 36-7-9-2 of the state’s Planning and Development Chapter defines “substantial property interest”.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. Applies to a building or land and shall include any person holding a written or oral lease of, or who occupied the whole or a part of such building or land, either alone or with others.
TOWN. The Town of Cloverdale, Indiana.
TOWN COUNCIL or COUNCIL. The Town Council of the Town of Cloverdale, Indiana.
TOWNSHIP. The township or townships in which the town is located.
WRITTEN and IN WRITING. 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, § 1-3)