The construction of all ordinances of this town shall be by the following rules, unless that construction is plainly repugnant to the intent of the legislative body or of the context of the same ordinance.
(A) "AND" or "OR." Either conjunction shall include the other as if written "and/or," if the sense requires it.
(B) Acts by assistants. When a statute requires an act to be done which, by law, an agent or deputy as well may do as the principal, the requisition shall be satisfied by the performance of the act by an authorized agent or deputy.
(C) Gender; singular and plural; tenses. 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 past or present tense shall include the future, if applicable.
(D) General term. A general term following specific enumeration of terms is not to be limited to the class enumerated unless expressly so limited.
(E) Joint authority. Words importing joint authority to three or more persons shall be construed as authority to a majority of these persons, unless otherwise declared in the law giving the authority.
Statutory reference:
For provisions concerning rules of construction, see G.S. § 12-3.
For provisions concerning computation of time, see G.S. § l-593