In
the construction of this code and of all ordinances and resolutions
passed by the city council, the following rules shall be observed,
unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent
of the city council:
Generally.
Words shall be construed in their common and usual significance
unless the contrary is clearly indicated.
City administrator, city manager, city secretary, chief of police
or other city officers.
The term “city administrator,” “city manager,”
“city secretary,” “chief of police” or other
city officer or department shall be construed to mean the city administrator,
city manager, city secretary, chief of police or such other municipal
officer or department, respectively, of the City of Dalworthington
Gardens, Texas.
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 first day is excluded and the last day is included. If the last
day of any period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period
is extended to include the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday,
or legal holiday.
Council.
Whenever the term “council” or “city council”
or “the council” is used, it shall mean the city council
of the City of Dalworthington Gardens, Texas.
County.
The term “county” or “this county”
shall mean the County of Tarrant, Texas.
Delegation of authority.
Whenever a provision of this Code of Ordinances requires
or authorizes an officer or employee of the city to do some act or
perform some duty, it shall be construed to authorize such officer
or employee to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform
the act or duty unless the terms of the provision specifically designate
otherwise.
Gender.
A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend and
be applied to females and to firms, partnerships, associations and
corporations, as well as to males.
Joint authority.
Words purporting to give authority to three (3) or more officers
or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a
majority of such officers or other persons, unless it is otherwise
declared.
Law.
The word “law” shall include federal law, the
constitution and statutes of the State of Texas, the ordinances of
the city, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations
which may be promulgated thereunder.
May.
The word “may” is permissive.
Month.
The word “month” shall mean a calendar month.
Number.
Any word importing the singular number shall include the
plural, and any word importing the plural number shall include the
singular.
Oath.
The word “oath” shall be construed to include
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.”
Official time standard.
Whenever certain hours are named in this code, they shall
mean standard time or daylight saving time, as may be in current use
in the city.
Or, and.
The word “or” may be read “and,”
and the word “and” may be read “or,” as the
sense requires it.
Owner.
The word “owner,” applied to a building or land,
shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant
in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the whole
or of a part of such building or land.
Person.
The word “person” shall extend and be applied
to associations, corporations, firms, partnerships, organizations,
business trusts, estates, trusts, and bodies politic and corporate,
as well as to individuals.
Personal property.
The term “personal property” shall include money,
goods, chattels, things in action and evidence of debt.
Preceding, following.
The terms “preceding” and “following”
mean next before and next after, respectively.
Property.
The word “property” shall mean and include real
and personal property.
Real property.
The term “real property” shall mean and include
lands, tenements and hereditaments.
Roadway.
The word “roadway” shall mean that portion of
a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic.
Sidewalk.
The word “sidewalk” shall mean that portion of
a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended
for the use of pedestrians.
State.
The term “the state” or “this state”
shall be construed to mean the State of Texas.
Street.
The word “street” shall have its commonly accepted
meaning and shall include highways, sidewalks, alleys, avenues, recessed
parking areas and other public rights-of-way, including the entire
right-of-way.
Tenant or occupant.
The term “tenant” or “occupant,”
applied to a building or land, includes any person who occupies the
whole or 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 or in writing.
The term “written” or “in writing”
shall be construed to include any representation of words, letters,
or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
Year.
The word “year” shall mean a calendar year.