General.
For the purpose of this Revision and any other ordinances heretofore
or hereafter adopted, the following definitions and rules of construction
shall be observed, except as the context may otherwise require:
The present tense includes the past and future tenses and the
future, the present.
The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.
The singular number includes the plural and the plural, the
singular.
"Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive.
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 a Sunday, a legal holiday, or a day on which the offices of
the City are closed, that day shall be excluded.
"Writing" and "written" shall include printing, typewriting
and any other mode of communication using paper or similar material
which is in general use, as well as legible handwriting.
Whenever a specific time is used in this Revision, it shall
mean the prevailing and established time in effect in the State of
New Jersey during any day in any year.
"And" may be read as "or" and "or" may be read as "and" where
the sense requires it.
All words giving a joint authority to three (3) or more persons
or officers shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority
of such persons or officers.
Any citation of a statute, law or ordinance contained in this
Revision shall be deemed to refer to such statute, law or ordinance
as amended, whether or not such designation is included in the citation.
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 shall 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 designate otherwise.
Interpretation. In the interpretation and application of any
provision of this Revision, it shall be held to be the minimum requirements
adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience
and general welfare. Where any provision of this Revision imposes
greater restrictions upon the subject matter than the general provision
imposed by the Revision, the provision imposing the greater restriction
or regulation shall be deemed to be controlling.
Name of official or officer. Whenever reference is made to an
official, board, commission, department, etc., by title only, it shall
be construed as though the words "of the City of Ocean City" were
added.
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.
Preceding, following. The words "preceding" and "following"
shall mean next before and next after, respectively.