[Adopted as Ch. 1 of the 1982 General Bylaws]
A. 
These bylaws are hereby entitled "General Bylaws for the Town of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts," to distinguish them from bylaws of the Town dealing with special subjects such as zoning and subdivisions.
B. 
These bylaws shall not affect any act done, any right accrued, any penalty incurred, any suit, prosecution or proceedings pending or the tenure of office of any person holding office, at the time when they take effect.
C. 
Any or all of these bylaws may be repealed or amended or other bylaws may be adopted by the Town Council pursuant to the requirements in the Town Charter.
[Amended 4-12-2022]
Whoever violates any of the provisions of these bylaws whereby any act or thing is enjoined or prohibited shall, unless other provision is expressly made, forfeit and pay a fine, not exceeding $200, for each offense. Unless otherwise provided by statute or these bylaws, all fees, fines or other money collected in the name of or on behalf of the Town by any Town officer, board or committee shall be turned over to the Collector/Treasurer.
The following rules of construction shall be observed in construing these bylaws, unless inconsistent with the manifest intent or the context:
A. 
Words importing the singular shall include the plural; words importing the plural shall include the singular; and words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine.
B. 
The words "streets, ways and highways" shall be construed to include all public ways, Town ways, highways, bridges, streets, traveled parts of highways, so far as such construction is not contrary to law.
C. 
The word "owner" applied to a building or land shall include part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, or joint tenant of the whole or of a part of such building or land.
D. 
The word "tenant" or "occupant" applied to a building or land shall include any person who occupies the whole or a part of such buildings or land either alone or with other persons.
E. 
The word "person" shall include limited-liability companies, corporations, societies, associations, partnerships or other legally formed entities.
F. 
Words prohibiting anything from being done, except in accordance with a license, permit or authority from a board or office, shall be construed as giving such board or office power to license, permit or authorize such a thing to be done.
G. 
"Minutes" means a record of action taken and matters considered.
H. 
These bylaws shall be construed as ordinances where appropriate under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
I. 
Any references to "MGL" will mean a reference to the Massachusetts General Laws.
[Amended 4-12-2022]
These bylaws shall take effect when duly adopted by Town Council, pursuant to the requirements of the Town Charter, and published or posted pursuant to the requirements of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, MGL c. 40, § 32A, as amended.
[Amended 4-12-2022]
The invalidity of any section or provision of these bylaws shall not invalidate any other section or provision thereof. The repeal or amendment of any bylaw or any portion of these bylaws shall not affect or prevent the prosecution or punishment of any person for any act done or committed in violation of any bylaw so repealed or amended prior to the taking effect of the bylaw repealing or amending the bylaw.