[Adopted as Ch. I of the 1978 Code (Ch. 1, Art. III, of the 1991 Code)]
A. 
In the construction of the ordinances of the Town of Indian Head, "Town" shall mean the Town of Indian Head.
B. 
The following rules shall be observed unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the ordinance in question:
(1) 
General rule. All words and phrases shall be construed and understood 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 the law shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.
(2) 
Gender; singular and plural. Every word in any ordinance importing the masculine gender shall extend to and be applied to females as well as males, and every word importing the singular number only shall extend and be applied to several persons or things as well as to one person or thing, and every word importing the plural number only shall extend and be applied to one person or thing as well as to several persons or things.
(3) 
Person. The word "person" shall extend and be applied to firms, corporations, partnerships, companies or organizations or voluntary associations, as well as to individuals, unless plainly inapplicable.
(4) 
Tenses. The use of any verb in the present tense shall include the future, when applicable.
(5) 
Shall have been. The words "shall have been" include past and future cases.
(6) 
Shall. The word "shall" indicates a mandatory directive.
(7) 
Heretofore and hereafter. Whenever the word "heretofore" occurs in any ordinance, it shall be construed to mean any time previous to the day when such ordinance shall take effect, and whenever the word "hereafter" occurs, it shall be construed to mean the time after the ordinance containing such word shall take effect.
(8) 
Joint authority. All words purporting to give a joint authority to three or more Town officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons, unless it shall be otherwise expressly declared in the law giving the authority.
(9) 
Acts by agents. When an ordinance requires an act to be done which may, by law, as well be done by an agent as by the principal, such requirement shall be construed to include all such acts when done by an authorized agent.
(10) 
Reasonable time. In all cases where any ordinance shall require any act to be done in a reasonable time or reasonable notice to be given, such reasonable time or notice shall be deemed to mean such time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of such duty or compliance with such notice.
(11) 
Time: how computed. The time within which an act is to be done as provided in any ordinance or in any order issued pursuant to any ordinance, when expressed in days, shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last, except that if the last is Sunday, it shall be excluded, and when any such time is expressed in hours, the whole of Sunday, from 12:00 midnight to 12:00 midnight, shall be excluded.
(12) 
Week. The word "week" shall be construed to mean seven days, but publication in a newspaper of any notice or other matter indicated to be for a stated number of weeks shall be construed to mean one insertion in each week, unless specifically stated to be for each day of the week or for more than one day in each week, and all publications heretofore made in accordance with the terms of this subsection are hereby validated.
C. 
The rules of construction set forth in this article shall not be applied to any ordinance which shall contain any express provision excluding such construction or when the subject matter of such ordinance may be repugnant thereto.
The following format shall be utilized in the preparation of ordinances for the Town:
A. 
The ordinance number shall be composed of month, sequential ordinance number and year. Amendments to existing ordinances will receive new numbers.
[Amended 3-4-1991 by Ord. No. 2-1-91]
B. 
The title.
C. 
The introductory paragraph shall establish the rationale why the ordinance is being created.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Subdivision 4, regarding the assignment of chapter numbers, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 3-4-1991 by Ord. No. 2-1-91.
D. 
Articles and sections shall be used to describe the reason and rationale.
E. 
The rules of construction specified in § 1-1B shall be observed in the construction of these ordinances.
F. 
The chapter will become a part of the Town Code upon the adoption of the ordinance.
[Amended 3-4-1991 by Ord. No. 2-1-91; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]
If the provisions of different chapters or articles of the Code of the Town of Indian Head conflict with or contravene each other, the provisions of each chapter or article shall prevail as to all matters and questions arising out of the subject matter of such chapter or article.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 1-34, When ordinances shall take effect, of the 1991 Code, which immediately followed, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
When any ordinance repealing a former ordinance, clause or provision shall be itself repealed, such repeal shall not be construed to revive such former ordinance, clause or provision, unless it shall be expressly so provided.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Secs. 1-107, Penalty, and 1-108, Continuing violation, which immediately followed this section, were repealed 3-4-1991 by Ord. No. 2-1-91.