The construction of all ordinances of the municipality shall be by the following rules, unless the construction is plainly repugnant to the intent of the legislative body or of the context of the same ordinance.
(A) And or or. Either conjunction shall include the other as if written “and/or,” if the sense requires it.
(B) Acts by assistants. When a statute or ordinance requires an act to be done which, by law, an agent or deputy as well may do as the principal, the requisition shall be satisfied by the performance of the act by an authorized agent or deputy.
(C) Gender; singular and plural; tenses. 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.
(D) General term. A general term following specific enumeration of terms is not to be limited to the class enumerated unless expressly so limited.
(E) Joint authority. All words giving a joint authority to three or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving the authority to a majority of the persons or officers unless otherwise specifically provided.
(F) If any definition herein conflicts with a definition in the town’s planning, zoning, inland wetlands, water and sewer or other regulations, the definition in the regulation shall control.
(Res. passed 4-17-2019)