§ 1-2. Definitions and rules of construction generally.

In the construction of this Code and of all town ordinances, the following definitions and rules of construction shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the town council:

Charter. Whenever the term "Charter" is used in this Code of Ordinances it shall mean and refer to the Charter of the Town of Tappahannock, Virginia as printed in Part I of this volume.

Code. The term "Code" shall mean the Code of Ordinances, Town of Tappahannock, Virginia.

Code of Virginia. The term "Code of Virginia" shall mean the Code of Virginia, of 1950, as amended.

Computation of time. The time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first and including the last day; and if the last day is Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 1-13.3.

Council, town council. The term "council" or "town council" shall mean the town council of the Town of Tappahannock, Virginia.

County. The term "county" shall mean the County of Essex in the State of Virginia.

Delegation of authority. A provision that authorizes or requires a town officer or town employee to perform an act or make a decision authorizes such officer or employee to act or make a decision through subordinates.

Gender. Terms importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 1-13.7.

In the town. The term "in the town" shall mean any territory jurisdiction of which for the exercise of its regulatory power has been conferred on the town by public or private law.

Joint authority. All terms giving joint authority to three or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such persons or officers.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 1-13.1.

May. The term "may" shall be permissive.

Month. The term "month" shall mean a calendar month.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 1-13.13.

Number. A term importing the singular only shall extend and be applied to several persons and things, and a term importing the plural only may apply to one person or thing.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 1-13.15.

Oath. The term "oath" shall include an affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words "swear" and "sworn" shall be equivalent to the words "affirm" and "affirmed."

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, §§ 1-13.16, 1-13.28.

Occupant. The term "occupant," applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of such building or land.

Officers, departments, boards, committees, commissions or employees, etc. Whenever reference is made to officers, departments, boards, committees, commissions or employees, etc., it shall mean and refer to those of the Town of Tappahannock, Virginia.

Person. The term "person" shall include any individual, corporation, partnership, association, company, business, trust, joint venture or other legal entity.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 1-13.19.

Property. The term "property" shall mean real, personal or mixed property.

Public grounds. The term "public grounds" shall mean the parks and all public lands owned or leased by the town, and those parts of public places which do not form travelled parts of streets as defined in this section.

Shall. The term "shall" shall be mandatory.

Sidewalk. The term "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of a street between the curbline, or the lateral lines of a roadway where there is no curb, and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.

State. The terms "the state" or "this state" shall mean the State of Virginia.

Street. The term "street" shall include avenues, boulevards, highways, roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts, bridges and approaches thereto and all other public thoroughfares in the town, and shall mean the entire width thereof between abutting property lines.

Tense. Terms used in the present tense include the future tense.

Town. The term "town" shall mean the Town of Tappahannock, in the County of Essex, State of Virginia.

Written, in writing. The terms "written" and "in writing" shall include typewriting, printing on paper and any other mode of representing words and letters.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 1-13.32.

Year. The term "year" shall mean a calendar year, unless a fiscal year is indicated.

State Law reference— Rules of construction, Code of Virginia, § 1-13 et seq.; "year" defined, Code of Virginia, § 1-13.33.

(Code 1993, § 1-2)

(Code 1993, § 1-2)