[Adopted 11-19-1984 by Ord. No. 1
as § 100.08 of the 1984 Code]
In the construction of this Code the following rules shall control,
except those inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Township Board of
Supervisors as disclosed in a particular section:
A. Rules of interpretation.
(1) Calendar; computation of time. The terms "month" and "year" 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 it shall be
excluded. If time is expressed in hours the whole of Sunday shall be excluded.
(2) Conjunctions. "And" includes "or" and "or" includes "and,"
if the sense so requires.
(3) Gender. Words importuning the masculine shall extend
and be applied to the feminine and neuter genders.
(4) General rule.
(a) 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 shall be construed according to such technical or special meaning.
(b) 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 the clear intent of any such particular
provision.
(5) Number. Words in the plural include the singular and
words in the singular include the plural.
(6) Reasonable time. In 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 notice.
(7) Tenses. The use of any verb in the present tense includes
the future tense.
B. Definitions. As used in the Code, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
COUNTY
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
OWNER
When applied to property, includes any part owner, joint owner or
tenant-in-common of the whole or any part of such property.
PERSON
Shall extend to and be applied to association, clubs, corporations,
firms and partnerships, as well as individuals.
PREMISES
Extends to and includes land and buildings.
PROPERTY
Includes real and personal, and any mixed and lesser estates or interests.
The words "personal property" include every kind of property except real property.
The words "real property" include lands, tenements and hereditaments.
PUBLIC AUTHORITY
Includes the Board of Education, the Township, the county, the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, the United States of America and any duly authorized public
official.
STREET and ROAD
Include avenues, alleys, courts, boulevards, lanes, roads, streets
and other public ways and squares in the Township.
TENANT or OCCUPANT
As applied to a building or lands, shall extend and be applied to
any person holding a written or oral lease of, or who occupies the whole or
any part of, a building, or land, alone or with others.