[Adopted 9-26-1979 as Sec. 1-2 of the 1979 Code]
A.
AUTHORITY
CALENDAR-COMPUTATION OF TIME
CHARTER
CITY and MUNICIPALITY
CODE
COUNCIL
COUNTY
JOINT AUTHORITY
KEEPER or PROPRIETOR
LAND or REAL ESTATE
OATH
OWNER
PERSON
PREMISES
PROPERTY
REASONABLE TIME
SIDEWALK
STATE or COMMONWEALTH
STREET
TENANT or OCCUPANT
In the construction of this Code, the following rules
shall control, except those inconsistent with the manifest intent of Council
as disclosed in a particular provision, section or Article:
Whenever in this Code 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.
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 day be a Sunday or
holiday, it shall be excluded. If time is expressed in hours, the whole day
of Sunday or any holiday shall be excluded.
The Home Rule Charter of the City of Scranton, effective January
5, 1976, and shall include any amendment to such Charter.
The City of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The Code of Ordinances, City of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The Council of the City of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The County of Lackawanna, Pennsylvania.
Words giving authority to a board, commission, authority or to three
(3) or more officers or employees or other persons shall be construed as giving
authority to a majority thereof, unless otherwise specifically provided.
Includes persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs and copartnerships,
whether acting by themselves or as a servant, agent or employee.
Includes rights and easements of incorporeal nature.
The word 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.
When applied to property, includes a part owner, joint owner or tenant
in common of the whole or any part of such property.
Extends and applies to associations, clubs, corporations, firms,
partnerships and bodies politic, as well as to individuals.
The word "premises," when used as applicable to property, extends
to and includes land and buildings.
Includes real and personal, and any mixed and lesser estates or interests
therein. The words "personal property" include every kind of property except
real property, and the words "real property" include lands, tenements and
hereditaments.
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.
Any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property
line, intended for the use of pedestrians, excluding parkways.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Includes alleys, avenues, boulevards, lanes, roads, streets and other
public ways in the City.
As applied to buildings or land, shall extend and be applied to 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.
B.
Word usage.
(1)
Conjunctions. "And" includes "or" and "or" includes "and,"
if the sense so requires.
(2)
Gender. Words importing the masculine shall extend and
be applied to the feminine and neuter genders.
(3)
General rule. Except as otherwise provided in this section,
words and phrases shall be construed according to the common usage of the
English 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.
(4)
Number. Words in the plural include the singular and
words in the singular include the plural number.
(5)
Tenses. The use of any verb in the present
tense includes the future.
