In
the construction of this Code of Ordinances and of all ordinances,
the following definitions and rules of construction shall be observed,
unless it shall be otherwise expressly provided in any section or
ordinance or unless inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Board
of Aldermen or unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
BOARD OF ALDERMEN, BOARD
Whenever the term "Board of Aldermen" or "Board" is used,
unless the context requires otherwise, said terms shall be construed
to refer to the Board of Aldermen of the City of Clayton.
CITY
The words "the City" shall mean the City of Clayton in the
State of Missouri and shall include the appropriate officers and employees
thereof when any action by "the City" is indicated.
CODE 1947
Citations to the 1947 Code of Ordinances shall be deemed
to include all amendments to the Sections thereof to which such citations
are appended herein.
CODE OF ORDINANCES, CODE
The term "Code of Ordinances" or "Code" shall mean the Code
of Ordinances, City of Clayton, Missouri.
COMPUTATION OF TIME
The time within which an act is to be done shall be computed
by excluding the first and including the last day; and if the last
day be Sunday or a legal holiday, that shall be excluded.
COUNTY
The words "the County" shall mean St. Louis County in the
State of Missouri.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
Whenever a provision appears requiring the head of a department
of the City to do some act or make certain inspections, it is to be
construed to authorize the head of the department to designate, delegate
and authorize subordinates to perform the required act or make the
required inspection unless the terms of the provision or Section designates
otherwise. All such delegations of authority shall be certified in
writing to the City Manager at the time made and likewise with recisions
thereof.
GENDER
When any subject matter, party or person is described or
referred to by words importing the masculine, females as well as males,
and associations and bodies corporate as well as individuals, shall
be deemed to be included.
JOINT AUTHORITY
Words importing joint authority to three (3) or more persons
shall be construed as authority to a majority of such persons.
KEEPER, PROPRIETOR
Includes persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs
and partnerships, whether acting by themselves or through a servant,
agent or employee.
NON-TECHNICAL AND TECHNICAL WORDS
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 law shall be construed and understood according to such meaning.
NUMBER
When any subject matter, party or person is described or
referred to by words importing the singular number, the plural and
separate matters and persons and bodies corporate shall be deemed
to be included.
OATH
Includes an affirmation 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".
OFFICERS
Reference to any officer by title, such as "Mayor", "City
Manager", etc., shall be deemed to refer to such officers of the City
of Clayton, Missouri.
OR, AND
Or may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or" if the sense
requires it.
OWNER
The word "owner", applied to a building or land, shall include
any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant
by the entirety of the whole or a part of such building or land.
PERSON
Includes a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization
and any other group acting as a unit as well as individuals. It shall
also include an executor, administrator, trustee, receiver or other
representative appointed according to law. Whenever the word "person"
is used in any Section of this Code of Ordinances prescribing a penalty
or fine, it shall include agents and employees thereof; as to partnerships
or associations, the word shall include the partners, members, agents
and employees thereof and as to corporations, the word shall include
the officers, members, agents and employees thereof who are responsible
for any violation of such Section, as well as the principal.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences
of debt.
PRECEDING, FOLLOWING
The words "preceding" and "following" shall mean next before
and next after, respectively.
PREMISES
Whenever the word "premises" is used, it shall mean place
or places.
PROPERTY
Includes real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY
The terms "real property" or "premises" or "real estate"
or "lands" shall be deemed to be co-extensive with lands, tenements
and hereditaments.
RESIDENCE
The place adopted by a person as his/her place of habitation
and to which, whenever he/she is absent, he/she has the intention
of returning. When a person eats at one place and sleeps at another,
the place where such person sleeps shall be deemed his/her residence.
SIDEWALK
The portion of the street between the curb line and the adjacent
property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE
Where the written signature of any person is required, the
proper handwriting of such person or his/her mark shall be intended.
STATE
The words "the State" shall mean the State of Missouri.
STREET
Includes any public way, highway, street, avenue, boulevard,
parkway, alley or other public thoroughfare and each of such words
shall include every other of them.
TENANT, OCCUPANT
The word "tenant" or "occupant", applied to a building or
land, shall include any person who occupies the whole or a part of
such building or land, whether alone or with others.
TENSE
Words used in the past or present tense include the future
as well as the past and present.
WRITTEN, IN WRITING AND WRITING WORD FOR WORD
Includes printing, lithographing, or other mode of representing
words and letters, but in all cases where the signature of any person
is required, the proper handwriting of the person, or his/her mark,
is intended.