(A) City. "City" means the City of Lima, Ohio.
(B) Conjunctions. "And" includes "or" and "or" includes "and, " if the sense so requires.
(C) Council. "Council" means the Council of the City.
(D) County. "County" means Allen County, Ohio.
(E) Gender. Words in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter genders.
(F) General Rule. Except as otherwise provided in this section, words and phrases shall be construed according to the common usage of language. However, 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 Codified 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 request of such officer, by a deputy or subordinate, unless contrary to law or to the clear intent of any such particular provision.
(G) Joint Authority. Words giving authority to a board, a commission or three or more City officers, employees or other persons shall be construed as giving authority to a majority thereof, unless otherwise specifically provided.
(H) Keeper or Proprietor. "Keeper" or "proprietor" includes persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs and copartnerships, whether acting by themselves or as servants, agents or employees.
(I) Land or Real Estate. "Land" or "real estate" includes rights and easements of an incorporeal nature.
(J) Number. Words in the plural number include the singular number and words in the singular number include the plural number.
(K) Oath. "Oath" includes affirmation. When an oath is required or authorized by law, an affirmation in lieu thereof may be taken by a person having conscientious scruples with regard to taking an oath. An affirmation has the same force and effect as an oath.
(L) Owner. "Owner," when applied to property, includes any part owner, joint owner or tenant in common, of the whole or of any part of such property.
(M) Person. "Person" means associations, clubs, corporations, firms and partnerships, as well as individuals.
(N) Preceding and Following. "Preceding" and "following" mean next before and next after, respectively.
(O) Premises. "Premises," when applied to property, includes land and buildings.
(P) Property. Property includes real and personal property and any mixed and lesser estates or interests therein. "Personal property" includes every kind of property except real property, and "real property" includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
(Q) Public Authority. "Public authority" includes the Board of Education of the City, the City, the County Commissioners, the State, the United States and any duly authorized public official.
(R) Public Place. "Public place" includes any park, cemetery, school yard, or any open space adjacent thereto, and any lake or stream.
(S) 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.
(T) Sidewalk. "Sidewalk" means that portion of the street located between the curb line and the line of the next adjacent property intended for use by pedestrians, but does not include parkways.
(U) Signature or Subscription. "Signature" or "subscription" includes a mark made when a person cannot write.
(V) State. "State" means the State of Ohio.
(W) Street. "Street" includes alleys, avenues, boulevards, lanes, roads, streets and other public ways in the City.
(X) Tenant or Occupant. "Tenant" or "occupant," when applied to a building or land, means any person holding a written or oral lease of or occupying the whole or any part of a building or land, alone or with others.
(Y) Tenses. Words in the past or present tense include the future.
(Z) Written or in writing. "Written" or "in writing" means any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.