In the construction of this code and of all ordinances, the following definitions and rules of construction shall be observed unless inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Board of Commissioners or the context clearly requires otherwise.
(A) Definitions.
BOARD. The Board of Commissioners of the town.
COUNTY. The County of Gaston, in the State of North Carolina, except as otherwise provided.
JOINT AUTHORITY. All words giving a joint authority to three or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving authority to a majority of persons or officers.
MAYOR. The Mayor of the town.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH. Include an affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in certain cases the words “swear” and “sworn” shall be equivalent to the words “affirm” and “affirmed”.
OWNER. As applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of the building or land.
PERSON. Include a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization, and any other group acting as a unit, as well as an individual.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Include every species of property except real property as herein defined.
PRECEDING and FOLLOWING. Next before and next after respectively.
PROPERTY. Include real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY. Real property shall include lands, tenements, and hereditaments.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE. The words “signature” or “subscription” include a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of North Carolina.
STREET. Include any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, lane, viaduct, or bridge and the approaches thereto within the town.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. As applied to a building or land shall include any person who occupies the whole or a part of the building or land whether alone or with others.
TOWN. The Town of Ranlo, in Gaston County, North Carolina, except as otherwise provided.
WRITING or WRITTEN. Include printing and any other mode of representing words and letters.
YEAR. A calendar year.
(B) Interpretation.
(1) Computation of time. The time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first and including the last day; and if the last day is Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.
(2) Gender. Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.
(3) Number. Words used in the singular include the plural, and words used in the plural include the singular number.
(4) Time. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.
(Prior Code, § 1-1002)
Statutory reference:
Computation of time, see G.S. § 1-593
Rules of construction, see G.S. § 12-3