In the construction of this Code, and of all ordinances, the
rules and definitions set out in this article shall be observed, unless
such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of
the City Council. The rules of construction and definitions set out
herein shall not be applied to any section of this Code which shall
contain any express provision excluding such construction, or where
the subject matter or context of such section may be repugnant thereto.
As used in the Code, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
CITY
The City of Augusta, Maine.
CODE
The Revised Ordinances of the City of Augusta, Maine, as designated in Article
I of this chapter.
COMPUTATION OF TIME
Whenever a notice is required to be given or an act to be
done a certain length of time before any proceeding shall be had,
the day on which such notice is given, or such act is done, shall
not be counted in computing the time, but the day on which such proceeding
is to be held shall be counted.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
Whenever a provision appears requiring the head of a department
or some other City officer to do some act or perform some duty, it
is to be construed to authorize the head of the department or other
officer to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform
the required act or perform the duty unless the terms of the provision
or section specify otherwise.
GENDER
Words of the masculine gender may include the feminine.
JOINT AUTHORITY
Words giving authority to three or more persons authorize
a majority to act, when the enactment does not otherwise determine.
MAYOR
The Mayor of the City.
M.R.S.A.
The latest edition of the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated.
NONTECHNICAL 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
Words of the singular number may include the plural; and
words of the plural number may include the singular.
OATH
Includes an affirmation, when affirmation is allowed. Affirmation
is allowed when a person required to be sworn is conscientiously scrupulous
of taking an oath.
OFFICIALS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS
Whenever reference is made to officials, boards, commissions
by title only, i.e., "City Council," "City Clerk," "the Mayor," "City
Manager," etc., it shall be deemed to refer to the officials, boards
and commissions of the City of Augusta.
OR; AND
"Or" may be read "and," and "and" may be read "or" if the
sense requires it.
OWNER
As applied to a building or land, shall include any part
owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant of the whole or
of a part of such building or land.
PERSON
Shall extend and be applied to associations, societies, clubs,
firms, partnerships, bodies politic, foreign and domestic corporations
as well as to individuals.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Includes every species of property except real property,
as herein described.
PROPERTY
Includes real and personal property.
PUBLIC WAY
A way over which the general public has a right to pass.
SIDEWALK
Any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent
property line, intended for the use of pedestrians, excluding parkways.
STREET
Shall be construed to embrace streets, avenues, boulevards,
roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts and all other public ways in the City,
and shall include all areas thereof embraced between the property
lines and dedicated to the public use.
TENANT or OCCUPANT
As applied to a building or land, shall include any person
holding a written or oral lease or who occupies the whole or a part
of such buildings or land, either alone or with others.
TENSE
Words used in the past or present tense include the future
as well as the past and present.
WRITTEN or IN WRITING
Shall be construed to include any representation of words,
letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR
A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.