In the construction of the Codified Ordinances the following rules shall control, excepting those inconsistent with the manifest intent of Council as disclosed in a particular provision, section or Code:
(a) Calendar - Computation of Time. “Month” and “year” shall mean the calendar month or year. The time expressed in days within which an act is to be done or a period is to expire shall he computed by excluding the first and including the last day except if the last be Sunday it shall be excluded. If time is expressed in hours the whole of Sunday shall be excluded.
(b) City and Municipality. "City" and "Municipality" shall mean the Municipality of Middleburg Heights, Ohio.
(c) Conjunctions. "And" shall include "or" and "or" shall include "and", if the sense so requires.
(d) Council. "Council" means the Council of Middleburg Heights, Ohio.
(e) Gender. Words importing the masculine shall extend and be applied to the feminine and neuter genders.
(f) General Rule. Excepting as otherwise provided in this section, words and phrases shall be construed according to the common usage of language; provided, however, that 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 instance 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, Commission or to three or more Municipal officers or employees or other persons shall be construed as giving authority to a majority thereof unless otherwise specifically provided.
(h) Number. Words in the plural shall include the singular and in the singular shall include the plural number.
(i) Owner. "Owner" when applied to property, shall include any part owner, joint owner or tenant in common, of the whole or any part of such property.
(j) Person. "Person" shall extend to and be applied to associations, clubs, corporations, firms and partnerships, as well as to individuals.
(k) Premises. "Premises" when used as applicable to property shall extend to and include land and buildings.
(l) Public Authority. "Public Authority" shall extend to and include the Board of Education of the Municipality, the Municipality, the County Commissioners, the State of Ohio, the United States of America, and any duly authorized public official.
(m) Property. "Property" shall include real and personal, and any mixed and lesser estates or interests therein; the words "personal property" shall include every kind of property except real property; and the words "real property" shall include lands, tenements and hereditaments.
(n) 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.
(o) Sidewalk. "Sidewalk" shall mean that portion of the street, located between the curb line and the line of the next adjacent property intended for use by pedestrians.
(p) Street. "Street" shall be construed to include alleys, avenues, boulevards, lanes, roads, streets and other public ways in the Municipality.
(q) Tenant or Occupant. "Tenant" or "occupant" as applied to a building or land shall extend and be applied to any person holding a written or oral lease of or who occupies the whole or any part of a building or land, alone or with others.
(r) Tenses. The use of any verb in the present tense shall include the future.