A. Liberal Construction: All general provisions, terms, phrases and expressions contained in this Code shall be liberally construed in order that the true intent and meaning of the Mayor and Town Board of Trustees may be fully carried out.
B. Minimum Requirements: In the interpretation and application of any provision of this Code, it shall be held to be the minimum requirement adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety and general welfare.
C. Time Of Performance: The time within which an act is to be done as provided in any section or any order issued pursuant to any section, when expressed in days, and is computed by excluding the first and including the last day. If the last day is a Sunday or legal holiday, that day shall not be counted in the computation. When the time is expressed in hours, the whole of Sunday or a legal holiday from twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight to twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight is excluded.
D. Delegation Of Authority: Whenever a power is granted to or a duty is imposed upon a public officer or employee, the power may be performed by an authorized deputy or designee or by any person authorized pursuant to law or ordinance, unless this Code expressly provides otherwise.
E. Gender: Words imposing the masculine include the feminine and neuter as well as the masculine. The use of any gender based pronoun should not be construed to be gender biased, but is only used for grammatical simplicity.
F. May; Shall: The word "may" is permissive and discretionary; the word "shall" is mandatory.
G. Or; And: The word "or" may be read "and"; the word "and" may be read "or" if the sense requires it.
H. Nontechnical And Technical Words: Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language, but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be construed and understood according to such meaning.
I. Number: A word importing the singular number only may extend and be applied to several persons and things as well as to one person and thing.
J. Officers And Employees Generally: Whenever any officer or employee is referred to by title only, such reference shall be construed as if followed by the words "of the Town of Locust Grove".
K. Tense: Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.
L. Definitions: Definitions given within a chapter or article apply only to words or phrases used in such chapter or article unless otherwise provided.
M. Law: Applicable Federal law and court decisions, court decisions and provisions of the Constitution and Statutes of the State, and ordinances of the Town, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
N. Ordinance: The word "ordinance" contained in the ordinances of the Town has been changed in the content of this Code to "title", "chapter", "section" and/or "subsection" or words of like import for organizational and clarification purposes only. Such change to the Town's ordinances is not meant to amend passage and effective dates of such original ordinances. Ordinances of the Town shall include all amendments and supplements thereto. (2014 Code § 1-102; amd. 2018 Code)