In the construction of this code and of all ordinances of the city, the following rules and definitions shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the city commission:
Acts by Agents. When this code requires an act to be done which may by law be done by an agent as well as by the principal, such requisition shall be construed to include all such acts when done by an authorized agent.
"The city" or "this city" shall mean the city of Lovington, in the county of Lea and the state of New Mexico, except as otherwise provided.
"City commission" means the city commission of the city of Lovington.
Computation of Time. Unless otherwise specifically provided, in computing time, the first day shall be excluded and the last included, unless the last falls on Sunday or a legal holiday, in which case the time prescribed shall be extended so as to include the whole of the following Monday. When any such time is expressed in hours, the whole of Sunday, from midnight to midnight shall be excluded.
"County" or "this county" means the county of Lea, New Mexico.
"Department," ''board," "commission," "office," "officer" or "employee" means a department, board, commission, office, officer or employee of the city of Lovington, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Gender. Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.
"Hereafter" means the time after the section or ordinance containing such word shall take effect.
"Heretofore" means any time previous to the day when this code took effect;
Joint Authority. All words purporting to give a joint authority to three or more city officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons unless it shall be otherwise expressly declared in the law giving authority.
"Keeper" or "proprietor" means and includes persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs and copartnerships, whether acting by themselves or as a servant, agent or employee.
"Land" and "real estate" means and includes rights and easements of incorporeal nature.
"Misdemeanor" means and shall be construed to stand in lieu of "violation of ordinance."
"Month" means a calendar month.
Number. Words used in the singular include the plural and the plural includes the singular number.
"Oath" includes an affirmation or 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" or "affirmed."
Or, And. "Or" may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or" if the sense requires it.
"Owner," applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in" common, joint tenant, tenant by the entirety or person holding a community interest of the whole or a part of such building or land or person in possession and control of the premises.
"Person" includes a corporation, company, partnership, association or society as well as a natural person.
"Personal property" includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.
"Preceding" and "following" mean next before and next after, respectively.
"Property" includes real, personal and mixed estates and interests.
"Public place" includes any street, alley, highway, park, cemetery, schoolyard or open space adjacent thereto and any lake or stream.
"Real property" includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
Reasonable Time. In all cases where this code requires any act to be done in a reasonable time or reasonable notice to be given, such reasonable time or notice shall be deemed to mean such time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of such duty or compliance with such notice.
"Shall have been" includes past and future cases.
"Sidewalk" means any portion of a street between the curb line or the lateral lines of a road way where there is no curb and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.
"Signature" or "subscription" includes a mark when the person cannot write, his name being written near it, and witnessed by a person who writes his own name as witness.
"The state" or "this state" means the state of New Mexico.
"Street" includes avenues, boulevards, highways, roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts, bridges and the approaches thereto and all other public thoroughfares in the city, and means the entire width thereof between abutting property lines; it includes a sidewalk or footpath, unless the contrary is expressed or unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the city commission.
"Tenant" and "occupant," applied to a building or land, includes any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
Tenses. The use of any verb in the present tense shall include the future when applicable.
"Week" means seven days, but publication in a newspaper of any notice or other matter indicated to be for a stated number of weeks means one insertion in each week, unless specifically stated to be for each day of the week or for more than one day in each week. All publications heretofore made in accordance with the terms of this definition are validated.
"Written" and "in writing" may include printing, engraving or any other mode of representing words and letters excepting those cases where the written signature or mark of any person is required.
"Year" means a calendar year.
(Prior code § 1-1-3)