[Adopted 10-10-1973 as Ch. 1 of the 1973 Code]
In the construction of this Code and of all
other ordinances and resolutions of the Town, the following definitions
and rules of construction shall be observed, unless it shall be otherwise
expressly provided in any section or ordinance or resolution, or unless
inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Town Council, or unless
the context clearly requires otherwise:
A.
General rule. All general provisions, terms, phrases
and expressions shall be liberally construed in order that the true
intent and meaning of the Town Council may be fully carried out. Words
and phrases shall be taken in their plain or ordinary and usual sense,
but technical words having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law
shall be understood according to their technical import.
B.
Agents, acts of. Wherever any provision of this Code
or other ordinance or resolution of the Town Council requires an act
to be done which, by law, an agent or deputy as well may do as the
principal, such requirement shall be satisfied by the performance
of such act by an authorized agent or deputy.
C.
“And”; “or.” The word "and"
shall be construed to include the alternative word "or" where the
context makes such construction appropriate, and vice versa.
D.
“Code” or “this Code.” Whenever
the words "Code" or "this Code" are referred to in this volume without
further qualification, they shall mean the Code of the Town of Stanley,
Virginia.
E.
Computation of time. Whenever a notice is required
to be given or any other act is to be done a certain time before any
motion or proceeding, there must be that time exclusive of the day
for any such motion or proceeding, but the day on which such notice
is given or such act is done may be counted as part of the time; but
when a notice is required to be given or any other act is to be done
within a certain time after any event or judgment, that time shall
be allowed in addition to the day on which the event or judgment occurred.
F.
“Council” or “Town Council.”
Wherever the words "Council" or "Town Council" are used, they shall
be construed to mean the Town Council of the Town of Stanley, Virginia.
G.
County. The words "the county" shall be construed
to mean the County of Page in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
H.
A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend
and be applied to females and to firms, partnerships and corporations
as well as to males.
I.
Joint authority. Words purporting to give authority
to three or more officers or other persons shall be construed as giving
such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons.
J.
Month. Unless otherwise expressed, the word "month"
shall mean a calendar month.
K.
Number. A word importing the singular number only
may extend and be applied to several persons and things as well as
to one person or thing.
L.
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."
M.
Owner. The word "owner," applied to any property,
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 property.
N.
Person. The word "person" shall extend and be applied
to associations, firms, partnerships and bodies politic and corporate
as well as to individuals.
O.
Preceding; following. The words "preceding" and "following"
mean next before and next after, respectively.
P.
Shall; may. The word "shall" is mandatory. The word
"may" is permissive.
Q.
Sidewalk. The word "sidewalk" shall mean any portion
of the street between the curb and gutter and the adjacent property
line intended for the use of pedestrians.
R.
"Signature" or "subscription" includes a mark when
a person cannot write.
S.
State. The words "the state" or "this state" shall
mean the Commonwealth of Virginia.
T.
Street. The word "street" shall be construed to embrace
streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts, bridges
and the approaches thereto and all other public highways in the Town.
U.
Town. The words "Town," "the Town" or "this Town"
shall mean the Town of Stanley, in the County of Page, in the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
V.
"Written" or "in writing" shall be construed to include
any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing
or otherwise.
W.
Year. The word "year" shall mean a calendar year.
A.
When an ordinance which has repealed another shall
itself be repealed, the previous ordinance shall not be revived without
express words to that effect.
B.
No new ordinance shall be construed to repeal a former
ordinance as to any offense committed against the former ordinance
or as to any act done, any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred
or any right accrued or claim arising under the former ordinance,
or in any way whatever to affect any such offense or act so committed
or done, or any penalty, forfeiture or punishment so incurred, or
any right accrued or claim arising before the new ordinance takes
effect, save only that the proceedings thereafter had shall conform,
so far as practicable, to the ordinance in force at the time of such
proceedings.
