(A) Rules of interpretation. This code shall be construed by the following rules unless the construction is plainly repugnant to the legislative intent or context of the provision.
(1) Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, ordinary and usual sense. Technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(2) Words imputing joint authority to three or more persons shall be construed as imputing authority to a majority of the persons, unless otherwise declared in the section giving the authority.
(3) Where a section requires an act to be done which, by law, an agent or deputy may perform in addition to the principal, the performance of the act by an authorized deputy or agent is valid.
(4) Words denoting the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter genders; words in the singular shall include the plural, and words in the plural shall include the singular; the use of a verb in the present tense shall include the future, if applicable.
(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.
CLERK-TREASURER. The Clerk-Treasurer of the Town of Rockville, Indiana.
COUNCIL. The Town Council of the Town of Rockville, Indiana.
COUNTY. Parke County, Indiana.
HIGHWAY. Includes bridges, roads and streets, unless otherwise expressly provided.
MONTH. One calendar month.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee, receiver and bodies politic. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, the terms PERSON or WHOEVER as applied to any unincorporated entity shall mean the partners or members thereof, and as applied to corporations, the officers or agents thereof.
PRECEDING and FOLLOWING. When referring to sections or divisions in this code, refer to the sections or divisions next following or next preceding that in which the words occur, unless some other section is designated.
STATE. The State of Indiana, in the senses analogous to those in which the term “town” is used as described in the definition of “town” below.
TOWN.
(a) When used in a governmental or corporate sense, means and refers to the Civil Town of Rockville, Indiana, a municipal corporation and body politic, organized under the laws of the state; and includes, with respect to any particular matter, and by representation, its Town Council or such other officials, boards, commissions, departments, agencies or other authorities by which act of the Town Council or by general law are empowered to exercise governmental or corporate authority on behalf of the Civil Town of Rockville with respect to such particular matter.
(b) The term TOWN when used in a territorial or geographical sense, means or refers to that area included within the lawful municipal boundaries of the Civil Town of Rockville at that time in question, irrespective of the boundaries in existence at the time this code or any included provision or amendment takes effect; but with respect to any particular matter over which the town exercises any governmental or corporate jurisdiction beyond such municipal boundaries under authority of any law or an intergovernmental cooperative agreement, the term shall also include the area within such extraterritorial jurisdiction.
WRITTEN and IN WRITING. Include printing, lithographing or other modes of representing words and letters. Where the written signature of a person is required, the terms mean the proper handwriting of the person, or the person’s mark.
YEAR. One calendar year, unless otherwise expressly provided.
(I.C. 1-1-4-5)
(1984 Code, § 1-2-1)