In the construction of the Codified Ordinances the following rules shall control, except those inconsistent with the manifest intent of Council as disclosed in a particular provision, section or article:
(a) "Adopting Ordinance" means the ordinance of the City adopting the Codified Ordinances of York, Pennsylvania, in conformity with The Third Class City Code of Pennsylvania, and this Article 101.
(b) Authority. Whenever in the Codified Ordinances authority is given to an officer or an act is required to be performed, such authority may be exercised and such act may be performed, at the instance of such officer, by a deputy or subordinate unless contrary to law or to the clear intent of any such particular provision.
(c) Calendar-Computation of Time. The terms "month" and "year" shall mean the calendar month or year. The time expressed in days within which an act is to be done or a period is to expire shall be computed by excluding the first and including the last day except if the last be Sunday or holiday it shall be excluded. If time is expressed in hours the whole of Sunday shall be excluded.
(d) "City" and "Municipality" mean the City of York, Pennsylvania.
(e) Conjunctions. "And" includes "or" and "or" includes "and" if the sense so requires.
(f) "Council" means Council of the City of York, Pennsylvania.
(g) "County" means the County of York, Pennsylvania.
(h) "Fire Department" means the Bureau of Fire of the City.
(i) Gender. Words importing the masculine shall extend and be applied to the feminine and neuter genders.
(j) General Rule. Except as otherwise provided in this section, words and phrases shall be construed according to the common usage of language. However, technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a special meaning in the law, shall be construed according to such technical or special meaning.
(k) Joint Authority. Words giving authority to a board, commission, authority or to three or more officers or employees or other persons shall be construed as giving authority to a majority thereof unless otherwise specifically provided.
(l) "Keeper" or "proprietor" include persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs and copartnerships, whether acting by themselves or as a servant, agent or employee.
(m) "Land" or "real estate" include rights and easements of incorporeal nature.
(n) Number. Words in the plural include the singular and the singular includes the plural number.
(o) "Oath" includes affirmation. When an oath is required or authorized by law, an affirmation in lieu thereof may be taken by a person having conscientious scruples to taking an oath. An affirmation shall have the same force and effect as an oath. (53 P.S. §41101 et seq.)
(p) "Owner" when applied to a parcel in the City of York, may include a single person, multiple people, the general partners of an incorporated and registered Limited Partnership or the managing partners of an incorporated and registered Limited Liability Company as listed in the most recent version of the deed, papers of incorporation or operating agreement.
(1) Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies are required to provide the City Treasurer with the name, mailing address, daytime phone number and email address of the general partner or managing partner authorized to act for the owner.
(2) An owner of the parcel is required to file a completed Change of Contact Information Form with the Office of the City Treasurer which includes a mailing address, daytime phone number and email address, if available, anytime there is a change in the person authorized to act for the owner. (Ord. 61-2022. Passed 12-20-22.)
(q) "Person" extends to and includes associations, clubs, corporations, firms, partnerships and bodies politic, as well as to individuals.
(r) "Police Department" means the Bureau of Police of the City.
(s) "Premises" when used as applicable to property extends to and includes land and buildings.
(t) "Property" includes real and personal, and any mixed and lesser estates or interests therein. "Personal property" includes every kind of property except real property. "Real property" includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
(u) Reasonable Time. In all cases where provision is made for an act to be done or notice to be given within a "reasonable time", it shall be deemed to mean such time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of such act or giving of such notice.
(v) "Sidewalk" means any portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians, excluding parkways.
(w) "State" or "Commonwealth" means the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(x) "Street" includes highways, alleys, avenues, boulevards, lanes, roads, streets and other public ways in the City.
(y) "Tenant" or "occupant" as applied to building or land extends and includes any person holding a written or oral lease or who occupies the whole or any part of a building or land, alone or with others.
(z) Tenses. The use of any verb in the present tense shall include the future.
(aa) "Third Class City Code" means the Pennsylvania Act of June 28, 1951, P. L. 662, as amended. The sections of the Third Class City Code may be cited herein as "3rd Class Section."
(bb) "Written" or "in writing" includes any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
(cc) "Municipal election" means that election required by the Constitution of Pennsylvania to be held in odd-numbered years.
(dd) "Charter Law" means the Optional Third Class City Charter Law, Act of July 15, 1957, P.L. 901 (53 P.S. §41101 et seq.)