[Adopted 3-17-1992 by Ord. No. 92-594 (Ch. 1.04 of the 1992 Code)]
A. 
Terms defined. The following words and phrases, whenever used in the code of the Borough of Essex Fells, New Jersey, shall be construed as defined in this section unless from the context a different meaning is intended or unless a different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases:
BOROUGH
The Borough of Essex Fells, New Jersey, or the area within the territorial limits of the Borough of Essex Fells and such territory over which the Borough has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provision.
COUNCIL
The Borough Council of the Borough of Essex Fells. "All its members" or "all Council members" means the total number of Council members holding office.
COUNTY
The County of Essex.
LAW
Denotes applicable federal law, the Constitution and statutes of the State of New Jersey, the ordinances of the Borough of Essex Fells, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder.
MONTH
A calendar month.
OATH
Includes an affirmation or declaration 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."
OWNER
Applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant, tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of such building or land.
PERSON
Includes a natural person, joint venture, joint-stock company, partnership, association, club, company, corporation, business, trust, organization, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.
PRECEDING AND FOLLOWING
Next before and next after, respectively.
PROPERTY
Includes real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY
Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
SIDEWALK
That portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
STATE
The State of New Jersey.
STREET
Includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs or other public ways in this Borough which have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this state.
TENANT AND OCCUPANT
Applied to a building or land, includes any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
WRITTEN
Includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed, multigraphed, or otherwise reproduced in permanent visible form.
YEAR
A calendar year.
B. 
Word usage.
(1) 
"Must" and "shall" are each mandatory.
(2) 
"May" is permissive.
Use of the title of any officer, employee, department, board or commission means that officer, employee, department, board or commission of the Borough of Essex Fells.
All words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language, but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.
The following grammatical rules shall apply in the ordinances of the Borough of Essex Fells, unless it is apparent from the context that a different construction is intended:
A. 
Gender. Each gender includes the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
B. 
Singular and plural. The singular number includes the plural, and the plural includes the singular.
C. 
Tenses. Words used in the present tense include the past and the future tenses and vice versa, unless manifestly inapplicable.
When an act is required by an ordinance, the same being such that it may be done as well by an agent as by the principal, such requirement shall be construed to include all such acts performed by an authorized agent.
Whenever in the ordinances of the Borough of Essex Fells any act or omission is made unlawful, it shall include causing, allowing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering, or concealing the fact of such act or omission.
Except when otherwise provided, the time within which an act is required to be done shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day, unless the last day is Sunday or a holiday, in which case it shall also be excluded.
The provisions of the ordinances of the Borough of Essex Fells, and all proceedings under them, are to be construed with a view to effect their objects and to promote justice.
The repeal of an ordinance shall not repeal the repealing clause of an ordinance or revive any ordinance which has been repealed thereby.