Except as otherwise specifically provided or indicated by the
context:
(a) All words used in this Charter indicating the present tense shall
not be limited to the time of the adoption of this Charter, but shall
extend to and include the time of the happening of any event or requirement
for which provision is made therein.
(b) The singular number shall include the plural, the plural number shall
include the singular and the masculine gender shall extend to and
include the feminine gender and neuter.
(c) The word "City" shall mean the City of Bridgman.
(d) The terms "Council" and "City Council" shall be construed as meaning
Council or Common Council.
(e) The term "majority vote of the Council" means the concurring vote
of a majority of the members of the Council present and voting at
any legal meeting of the Council at which there is a quorum present.
(f) The word "Manager," "Clerk," "Treasurer," "Assessor," or "Attorney"
shall mean the City Manager, City Clerk, City Treasurer, City Assessor
or City Attorney, unless from the context the contrary shall plainly
appear; words referring to the several officers where not preceded
by the word "City" shall be deemed to include official action in form
of a motion as well as in form of a resolution.
(g) The word "person" may extend and be applied to bodies politic and
corporate, and to partnerships as well as to individuals.
(h) The word "printed" and "printing" shall include reproductions by
printing, engraving, stencil duplicating, lithographing or any similar
method, except in reference to signatures, the words "written" and
"in writing" shall include printing and typewriting.
(i) The word "officer" shall include the administrative officers created
by or pursuant to this Charter.
(j) The word "official" or "City official" shall include the Mayor and
other members of the Council, members of City Boards, Commissions
or Authorities created by or pursuant to this Charter.
(k) The word "state" shall mean the State of Michigan.
(l) The word "statute" shall denote the Public Acts of the State of Michigan
in effect at the time the provision of the Charter containing the
word "statute" is to be applied.
(m) The words "written" and "in writing" may be construed to include
printing, engraving, typewritten, electronic, facsimile transmissions,
and lithographing, except that this rule shall not apply to provisions
requiring written signatures, unless it be otherwise expressly herein
provided.
(n) The words "law" or "general laws of the state" shall denote the Constitution
and the Public Acts of the State of Michigan in effect at the time
the provision of the Charter containing the words "law" or "general
laws of the state" is to be applied, and applicable common law.
(o) All reference to section numbers shall refer to the section numbers
of this Charter.
No estoppel may be created against the City.
All processes against the City shall run against the City in
the corporate name thereof, and may be served by leaving a true copy
with the Mayor or Clerk.
All trusts established for any municipal purpose shall be used
and continued in accordance with the terms subject to the cy pres
doctrine. The Council may in its discretion receive and hold any property
in trust for any municipal purpose and shall apply the same to the
execution of such trust and for no other purposes, except in cases
where the cy pres doctrine shall apply.
Whenever the date fixed by this Charter for the doing or completion
of any act falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, such act shall be done
or completed on the next succeeding day which is not a Sunday or legal
holiday.
Until otherwise changed by the Council, the seal of the City
of Bridgman shall be as fixed hereto.
If any provision, section, article or clause of this Charter
or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be
found to be invalid by a court, such invalidity shall not affect any
remaining portion or application of the Charter which can be given
effect without the invalid portion or application, provided such remaining
portions or applications are not determined by the court to be inoperable,
and to this end, this Charter is declared to be severable.