(A) General rule. Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, or ordinary and usual sense. However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen, or governing body, of the Town of West Jefferson, North Carolina.
CHARTER. The Charter of the Town of West Jefferson, North Carolina.
CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This municipal code as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
COMPUTATION OF TIME. The time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first and the last day; and if the last day is Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.
COUNTY. The County of Ashe, North Carolina.
G.S. or GENERAL STATUTES. The latest edition of the GENERAL STATUTES of North Carolina, as amended.
GENDER. Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.
GOVERNOR. The Governor of North Carolina.
JOINT AUTHORITY. All words giving a joint authority to three or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving the authority to a majority of persons or officers.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
NUMBER. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural includes the singular number.
OATH. An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in those 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 this municipality unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
OFFICIAL TIME STANDARD. Whenever certain hours are named in this code, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in this town.
OWNER. Applied to any property, 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 property.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee or receiver. 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.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Every species of property except real property.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Includes real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY. Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of North Carolina.
STREET. Any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, dedicated alley, lane, viaduct, bridge and the approaches thereto within the town and shall mean the entire width of the right-of-way between abutting property lines.
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 who occupies the whole or a part of the building or land, whether alone or with others.
TENSE. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.
TOWN. The Town of West Jefferson, in the County of Ashe, North Carolina.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.
ZONING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. One designated by the Council.
Statutory reference:
Computation of time, see G.S. § 1-593