The following rules or meanings shall be applied in the construction
and interpretation of ordinances codified in this Code unless such
application would be clearly inconsistent with the plain meaning or
intent of the ordinances:
A. Acts
by agents. When an ordinance requires an act be done by a person which
may be legally performed by an authorized agent of that principal
person, the requirement shall be construed to include all acts performed
by such agents.
B. Code
and Code of Ordinances. The words "Code," "Code of Ordinances" and
"Municipal Code" when used in any section of this Code shall refer
to this Code of Ordinances of the Village of Argyle unless the context
of the section clearly indicates otherwise.
C. Computation
of time. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by
these ordinances, the day of the act or event from which the period
of time begins to run shall not be included, but the last day of the
period shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal
holiday. If the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than
seven days, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays shall be excluded
in the computation. As used in this section, "legal holiday" means
any statewide legal holiday specified by state law.
D. Fine.
The term "fine" shall be the equivalent of the word "forfeiture,"
and vice versa.
E. Gender.
Use has been made of masculine pronouns in these ordinances solely
for the sake of brevity. Unless specifically stated to the contrary,
this Code is gender neutral and words in these ordinances referring
to the masculine gender shall also be construed to apply to females,
and vice versa.
F. General
rule. All words and phrases shall be construed according to their
plain meaning in common usage. However, words or phrases with a technical
or special meaning shall be understood and construed according to
that technical or special meaning if such is the intent of the ordinances.
G. Joint
authority. All words purporting to give a joint authority to three
or more Village officers or employees shall be construed as giving
such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons.
H. Officers.
The term "officers" shall refer solely to local offices created by
state statute.
I. Officials.
The term "officials" shall mean all Village officers and employees.
J. Person.
The word "person" shall mean any of the following entities: natural
persons, corporations, partnerships, associations, bodies politic
or any other entity of any kind which is capable of being sued.
K. Repeal.
When any ordinance having the effect of repealing a prior ordinance
is itself repealed, such repeal shall not be construed to revive the
prior ordinance or any part thereof, unless expressly so provided.
L. Singular
and plural. Every word in these ordinances referring to the singular
number only shall also be construed to apply to several persons or
things, and every word in these ordinances referring to a plural number
shall also be construed to apply to one person or thing.
M. Tense.
The use of any verb in the present tense shall not preclude the interpretation
of the verb in the future tense where appropriate.
N. Wisconsin
Statutes. The term "Wisconsin Statutes" and its abbreviation as "Wis.
Stats." shall mean, in these ordinances, the Wisconsin Statutes as
of the adoption of this Code, as amended or renumbered from time to
time.
O. Wisconsin
Administrative Code. The term "Wisconsin Administrative Code" and
its abbreviation as "Wis. Adm. Code" shall mean the Wisconsin Administrative
Code as of the adoption of this Code, as amended or renumbered from
time to time.
P. Village.
The term "Village" shall mean the Village of Argyle, Lafayette County,
Wisconsin.
Whenever any standard code, rule, regulation, statute or other
written or printed matter is adopted by reference, it shall be deemed
incorporated in this Code as if fully set forth herein, and the Village
Clerk-Treasurer shall maintain in his/her office a copy of any such
material as adopted and as amended from time to time. Materials on
file at the Village Clerk-Treasurer's office shall be considered
public records open to reasonable examination by any person during
the office hours of the Village Clerk-Treasurer, subject to such restrictions
on examination as the Clerk-Treasurer imposes for the preservation
of the material.