(A) (1) Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, ordinary and usual sense.
(2) However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APPOINTED OFFICIAL. Any person appointed to a board, commission or advisory body, in accordance with this code of ordinances. APPOINTED OFFICIALS are not subject to the provisions of the county personnel ordinance and shall serve at the pleasure of the governing body and the County Manager.
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE. A person employed by the county who is entitled to grievance in accordance with the personnel policies and work rules and who is not exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
CODE or CODE OF ORDINANCES. The county's code of ordinances, as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new chapters, subchapters or sections.
COUNTY. Valencia County, New Mexico.
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS or BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. The governing body of the County of Valencia, New Mexico.
ELECTED OFFICIAL. Those county officials elected under the laws of the state.
GOVERNING BODY. The members of the Board of County Commissioners. The corporate authority of the municipality is vested in this body.
INTERPRETATION. For the purpose of this code and ensuing chapters and appendices and when not inconsistent with the context:
(a) Words used in the present tense include the future;
(b) Words in the future tense include the present;
(c) Words in the plural include the singular;
(d) Words in the singular include the plural;
(e) The word “shall” is always mandatory and not merely directory; the word “may” is permissive; and
(f) The impersonal pronouns “he,” “him” and “himself” shall denote either the feminine or the masculine gender.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH. An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an OATH and, in these cases, the words SWEAR and SWORN shall be equivalent to the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED.
OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office, employee, commission or department of the county unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
PERSON.
(a) Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee or receiver.
(b) 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 or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of New Mexico.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year unless otherwise expressed.