In the construction of this Code, the following rules shall
be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the
manifest intent of the ordinance.
A. Wisconsin
Statutes. The term "Wisconsin Statutes," wherever used in this Code,
shall mean the Wisconsin Statutes as defined in Wis. Stats. § 991.12.
B. Gender:
singular and plural. Every word in the Village Code and in any ordinance
importing the masculine gender may extend and be applied to females
as well as males, and every word importing the singular number only
may extend and be applied to several persons or things as well as
to one person or thing; provided that these rules of construction
shall not be applied to any provisions which shall contain any express
language excluding such construction or when the subject matter or
context of such provisions may be repugnant thereto.
C. Person.
The word "person" extends and applies to natural persons, firms, corporations,
associations, partnerships or other bodies politic and all entities
of any kind capable of being sued unless plainly inapplicable.
D. Acts
by agents. When a provision requires an act to be done which may by
law as well be done by an agent as by the principal, such requisition
shall be construed to include all such acts when done by an authorized
agent.
E. Time;
how computed. The time within which an act is to be done as provided
in any ordinance, or in any order issued pursuant to any ordinance,
when expressed in days, shall be computed by excluding the first day
and including the last, except that if the last day be Sunday, it
shall be excluded, and when any such time is expressed in hours, the
whole of Sunday from midnight to midnight shall be excluded.
F. Week.
The work "week" shall be construed to mean seven days; but publication
in the newspaper of any notice of other matter indicated to be for
a stated number of weeks shall be construed to mean one insertion
in each week, unless specially stated to be for each day of the week,
or for more than one day in each week.
G. Month;
year. The word "month" shall be construed to mean a calendar month
unless otherwise expressed; and the word "year" a calendar year unless
otherwise expressed.
H. Reasonable
time. In all cases where any ordinance shall require any act to be
done in a reasonable time, or reasonable notice to be given to any
person, such reasonable time or notice shall be deemed to mean such
time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance or execution
of such duty, or compliance with such notice.
Whenever in the Village Code any standard, code, rule, regulation
or other written or printed matter, other than the Wisconsin Statutes
or other sections of the Village Code, are adopted by reference, they
shall be deemed incorporated in the Village Code as if fully set forth
herein; and the Village Clerk/Treasurer is hereby directed and required
to file, deposit and keep in his/her office a copy of the code, standard,
rule, regulation, or other written or printed matter as adopted. Materials
so filed, deposited and kept shall be public records open for examination
with proper care by any person during the Village Clerk/Treasurer's
office hours, subject to such orders or regulations the Village Clerk/Treasurer
may prescribe for their preservation.
The repeal or amendment of any section or provision of the Village
Code or of any other ordinance or resolution of the Village Board
shall not:
A. By
implication be deemed to revive any ordinance not in force or existing
at the time at which such repeal or amendment takes effect.
B. Affect
any vested right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued
or incurred under any enactment so repealed or amended, unless the
privilege of repealing such obligation or privilege has been reserved
by the Village.
C. Affect
any offense committed or penalty or forfeiture incurred, previous
to the time when any ordinance shall be repealed or amended, except
that when any forfeiture or penalty shall have been mitigated by the
provisions of any ordinance, such provisions shall apply to and control
any judgment to be pronounced after such ordinance takes effect for
any offense committed before that time.
D. Affect
any prosecution for any offense, or the levy of any penalty or forfeiture
pending at the time when any ordinance aforesaid shall be repealed
or amended, but the right of action shall continue and the offender
shall be subject to the penalty as provided in such ordinances, and
such prosecution shall proceed, in all respects, as if such ordinance
or ordinances had not been repealed, except that all such proceedings
had after the time this Code shall take effect, shall be conducted
according to the provisions of this Code, and shall be, in all respects,
subject to the provisions of this Code.