[Adopted 2-5-1974 as § 1-2 of the 1974 Code]
As used in this Code, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Ossining.
CHARTER
The Charter of the Village of Ossining.
CORPORATE LIMITS, CORPORATION LIMITS OR VILLAGE LIMITS
The legal boundary of the Village of Ossining.
COUNTY
The County of Westchester, in the State of New York.
KEEPER, PROPRIETOR
Includes persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs and partnerships, whether acting by themselves or through a servant, agent or employee.
MAYOR
The Mayor of the Village of Ossining, and where a law or section shall direct that an act be performed or decision be made by the Mayor, such expression shall be deemed to include not only the Mayor, but the Acting Mayor in the absence of the Mayor, or any member of the Board of Trustees designated by the Board or the Mayor to perform the act or exercise the discretion referred to; but this provision shall not be construed to authorize the Mayor or the Board to delegate any power or duty on the part of the Mayor to any other person except a member of the Board of Trustees of the Village, or except as otherwise provided by law.
MONTH
A calendar month.
OATH
Includes 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."
OWNER
Includes 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
Extends and shall be applied to associations, clubs, societies, firms, partnerships and bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Includes every species of property, except real property, as herein described.
PRECEDING; FOLLOWING
Next before and next after, respectively.
PREMISES
Place or places.
PROPERTY
Includes real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY
Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
SEAL
The Village or corporate seal.
SIGNATURE OR SUBSCRIPTION
Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE
The State of New York.
STREET
Includes, but shall not be limited to, streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts and all other public highways in the Village.
TENANT, OCCUPANT
Includes any person holding a written or oral lease or who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, either alone or with others.
TRUSTEE
Any person elected or appointed to that office.
VILLAGE BOARD
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Ossining.
VILLAGE; CORPORATION
Whenever the words "the Village," "this Village," "the corporation" or "this corporation" are used they shall be construed as if the words "of Ossining, New York" followed them.
WEEK
Seven days.
WRITTEN, IN WRITING
Includes any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR
A calendar year.
A. 
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 be counted in computing the time, but the day on which such proceeding is to be had shall not be counted.
B. 
Delegation of authority. Whenever a provision appears requiring the head of a department of the Village to do some act or make certain inspections, it is to 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.
C. 
Interpretation. In the interpretation and application of any provision of this Code, 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 the Code imposes greater restrictions upon the subject matter than the general provisions imposed by the Code, the provision imposing the greater restriction or regulation shall be deemed to be controlling.
D. 
Joint authority. All words giving a joint authority to three or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such persons or officers.
E. 
Name of officer. Whenever the name of an officer is given it shall be construed as though the words "of the Village of Ossining," were added.
F. 
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.
G. 
Number. A word importing the singular number only may extend and be applied to several persons and things as well as to one person and thing.
H. 
Tense. Words used in the past or present tense include the future, as well as the past and present.