(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.
BOARD. The Board of Trustees of the town, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, now known as the TOWN COUNCIL or COUNCIL.
CLERK-TREASURER. The Clerk and Fiscal Officer of the town.
CODE. The 2020 LaGrange Town Code.
COUNCIL. The Town Council of LaGrange, Indiana, formally known as the BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
COUNTY. The County of LaGrange, Indiana.
ET SEQ. The Latin phrase meaning “and following”.
HIGHWAY. Includes bridges, roads and streets, unless otherwise expressly provided.
INDIANA CODE or I.C. The state law of Indiana.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. One calendar month.
MUST. The act referred to is mandatory.
OATH. Includes 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 “swears” 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 and/or any tenant of the whole or a part of such building or land.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee, receiver, and bodies politic. 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. Includes 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. Includes real and personal property.
PUBLIC PLACE. Any street or highway, sideway, park cemetery, school yard or open space adjacent thereto and any lake or stream.
REAL PROPERTY. Include lands, tenements and hereditaments.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of the street between the curb line and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians excluding parkways.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of Indiana.
STREET. Embraces streets, avenue, boulevards, roads, alleys, viaducts and all other public highways in the town.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. Apply 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 LaGrange, Indiana, or the area within the territorial limits of the Town of LaGrange, Indiana, and such territory, if any, outside the town over which the town has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provision.
WRITTEN and IN WRITING.
(a) Include printing, lithographing or other modes of representing words and letters.
(b) 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) (2014 Code, § A1.2(2))