In the construction of the Code, the following rules and definitions
shall control, except those that are inconsistent with the manifest
intent of Council as disclosed in a particular provision, section
or chapter:
ADOPTING ORDINANCE
The ordinance of the Borough adopting the Code of Bellefonte,
Pennsylvania, 2012, in conformity with the Borough Code of Pennsylvania and this Chapter
1.
AUTHORITY
Whenever in the 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.
BOROUGH CODE
The Act of the General Assembly No. 581, passed February
1, 1966, P.L. 1656, as amended.
COUNCIL
The Council of the Borough of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
COUNTY
The County of Centre, Pennsylvania.
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.
KEEPER and PROPRIETOR
Persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs and copartnerships,
whether acting by themselves or as a servant, agent or employee.
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 about taking an oath. An affirmation shall
have the same force and effect as an oath.
OWNER
When applied to property, includes a part owner, joint owner
or tenant in common of the whole or any part of such property.
PERSON
An individual, association, club, corporation, firm, partnership
or body politic.
PREMISES
When used as applicable to property, extends to and includes
land and buildings.
PROPERTY
Includes real and personal property 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.
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 the giving of such notice.
SIDEWALK
Any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent
property line, intended for the use of pedestrians, excluding parkways.
STREET
Alleys, avenues, boulevards, lanes, roads, streets, state
highways and other public ways in the Borough.
TENANT and OCCUPANT
As applied to buildings or land, 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.
General rule. Except as otherwise provided in this article,
words and phrases shall be construed according to the common usage
of the language; provided, however, that 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.
A. Gender.
Words importing the masculine shall extend and be applied to the feminine
and neuter genders.
B. Number.
Words in the plural include the singular and words in the singular
include the plural number.
C. Tenses.
The use of any verb in the present tense includes the future.
D. Conjunctions:
"And" includes "or" and "or" includes "and," if the sense so requires.
E. 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, unless the last day is a Sunday,
in which case it shall be excluded. If time is expressed in hours,
the whole of Sunday shall be excluded.
F. Time. Whenever
any time established in the Code for the taking of any action expires
on a Sunday or legal holiday, such time shall not expire on such day
but shall expire on the next weekday.