(A) General rule. All words and phrases shall be construed and understood 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 the law shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-1)
(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.
CODE, THIS CODE, or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. The municipal code of the Town of Payson as modified by amendment, revision, and adoption of new titles, chapters, or sections.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-3)
COUNCIL. The Town Council of the Town of Payson, Arizona.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-4)
COUNTY. Gila County, Arizona.
DAY. The period of time between any midnight and the midnight following.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-5)
DAYTIME. The period of time between sunrise and sunset.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-6)
DEPARTMENT, BOARD, COMMISSION, OFFICE, OFFICER, or EMPLOYEE. Whenever any department, board, commission, office, officer, or employee is referred to, it shall mean a department, board, commission, office, officer, or employee of the town unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-7)
IN THE TOWN or WITHIN THE TOWN. Means and includes all territory over which the town now has, or shall hereafter acquire, jurisdiction for the exercise of its police powers or other regulatory powers.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-9)
JOINT AUTHORITY. All words purporting to give a joint authority to three or more town 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 the authority.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-10)
MAJORITY. When used in reference to the Town Council means 51% of those members in attendance provided that a quorum of the Council is also present.
MONTH. A calendar month.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-11)
NIGHTTIME. The period of time between sunset and sunrise.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-6)
OATH. Includes affirmation or declaration.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-12)
PERSON. Shall extend and be applied to firms, corporations, or voluntary associations, as well as to individuals, unless plainly inapplicable.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-14)
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Includes every species of property, except real property as defined in this section.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-15)
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. The words PRECEDING and FOLLOWING mean next before and next after, respectively.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-16)
PROPERTY. Shall include real and personal property.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-17)
REAL PROPERTY. Shall include lands, tenements, and hereditaments.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-18)
SHALL or MAY. SHALL is mandatory and MAY is permissive.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-19)
SHALL HAVE BEEN. Includes past and future cases.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-20)
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the signer cannot write, such signer's or subscriber's name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his or her own name near the signer's or subscriber's name; but a signature or subscription by mark can be acknowledged or can serve as a signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two witnesses so sign their own names thereto.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-21)
STATE. The State of Arizona.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-22)
SUBCHAPTER. A division of a chapter, designated in this code by a heading in the chapter analysis and a capitalized heading in the body of the chapter, setting apart a group of sections related by the subject matter of the heading. Not all chapters have subchapters.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. When applied to a building or land shall include any person holding a written or an oral lease or who occupies the whole or part of such building or land, either alone or with others.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-23)
TOWN, CITY, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, or MUNICIPALITY. The Town of Payson, Arizona.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-27)
WEEK. A WEEK consists of seven consecutive days.
(`82 Code, § 1-3-28)
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing, email, electronic non-verbal communication, or otherwise.
WRITING. Includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement or record is required or authorized by this code, it shall be made in writing in the English language unless it is expressly provided otherwise. (`82 Code, § 1-3-29)
YEAR. A calendar year, except where otherwise provided. (`82 Code, § 1-3-30)
(Am. Ord. 837, passed 9-19-13)
Statutory reference:
Definitions and construction of statutes generally, see A.R.S. §§ 1-211 through 1-215