[Adopted 3-14-1989 as Ch. 1, Art. III, of the 1989 Code]
A.Â
In the construction of this Code, and of all legislation,
the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would
be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Village Board of Trustees:
(1)Â
Generally. The provisions of this Code shall be liberally
construed to effect the purposes expressed therein or implied from
the expression thereof. In case of doubt or ambiguity in the meaning
of such provisions, the general shall yield to the particular. Reference
for interpretation and construction shall tend to further the accomplishment
of the elimination of the particular mischiefs for which the provisions
were enacted. Words shall be construed in their common and usual significance
unless the contrary is clearly indicated.
(2)Â
Computation of time. Whenever a notice is required
to be given or an act to be done or 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.
(3)Â
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.
(4)Â
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.
(5)Â
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.
B.Â
Word usage.
(1)Â
Gender. 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.
(2)Â
Name of officer. Whenever the name of an officer is
given, it shall be construed as though the words "of the Village of
Pittsford" were added.
(3)Â
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.
(4)Â
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.
(5)Â
Or; and. "Or" may be read "and," and "and" may be
read "or" if the sense requires it.
(6)Â
Tense. Words used in the past or present tense include
the future as well as the past and present.
(7)Â
Village or corporation. Whenever the words "the village,"
"this village," "the corporation" or "this corporation" are used,
they shall be construed as if the words "of Pittsford, New York" followed
them.
C.Â
CORPORATE LIMITS, CORPORATION LIMITS or VILLAGE LIMITS
COUNTY
KEEPER or PROPRIETOR
MAYOR
MONTH
OATH
OWNER
PERSON
PERSONAL PROPERTY
PRECEDING and FOLLOWING
PREMISES
PROPERTY
PUBLIC PLACE
REAL PROPERTY
RESIDENCE
SEAL
SIDEWALK
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION
STATE
STREET
TENANT or OCCUPANT
TRUSTEE
VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WEEK
WRITTEN or IN WRITING
YEAR
Definitions. As used in this Code, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The legal boundary of the Village of Pittsford.
The County of Monroe in the State of New York.
Includes persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs
and partnerships, whether acting by themselves or through a servant,
agent or employee.
The Mayor of the Village of Pittsford. Where an ordinance
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.
A calendar month.
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."
As applied to a building or land, 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.
Extends and applies to associations, clubs, societies, firms,
partnerships and bodies politic and corporate as well as to individuals.
Includes every species of property except real property,
as herein described.
Next before and next after, respectively.
Place or places.
Includes real and personal property.
Any park, cemetery, schoolyard or open space adjacent thereto
and all streets and parking fields.
Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
The place adopted by a person as his place of habitation
and to which, whenever he is absent, he has the intention of returning.
When a person eats at one place and sleeps at another, the place where
such person sleeps shall be deemed his "residence."
The Village or Corporate Seal.
Any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent
property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
The State of New York.
Includes but shall not be limited to streets, avenues, boulevards,
roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts and all other public highways in the
village.
As applied to a building or land, includes any person holding
a written or oral lease or who occupies the whole or a part of such
buildings or lands, either alone or with others.
Any person elected or appointed to that office.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Pittsford.
Seven days.
Includes any representation of words, letters or figures,
whether by printing or otherwise.
A calendar year.
