§ 1-3. Rules of construction and definitions

In the construction of this Code, and of all ordinances and resolutions passed by the city council, the following rules shall be observed and the following definitions shall apply, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the city council:

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.

City. The words "the City" or "this City" shall mean the City of Paris, in the County of Lamar and the State of Texas.

City council. The words "council" or "city council" shall mean the City Council of Paris, constituting the governing body of the City.

City officers and departments. Whenever reference is made to an officer or a department, the same shall be construed as if followed by the words "of the City of Paris, Texas." Reference to such officer shall also be deemed to include his authorized deputies, agents or representatives.

Code. The words "this Code" shall mean the Code of Ordinances, City of Paris, Paris, Texas, as designated in section 1-1.

Computation of time. In computing a period of days, 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. If a number of months is to be computed by counting the months from a particular day, the period ends on the same numerical day in the concluding month of the day of the month from which the computation is begun, unless there are not that many days in the concluding month, in which case the period ends on the last day of that month.

(Code 1970, § 1-3)

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Similar provisions, V.T.C.A., Government Code § 311.014.

County. The term "county" or "this county" shall mean the County of Lamar, Texas.

Gender. A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend to and be applied to females and to firms, partnerships, associations and corporations, as well as to males.

Health department, health officer, etc. The term "health department" shall mean the Paris-Lamar County Health Unit and the term "health officer" shall mean the director of such unit. The term "board of health" shall mean the Paris-Lamar County Board of Health.

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.

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."

Or, and. "Or" may be read "and," and "and" may be read "or," if 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" includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. Where criminal prosecution may lie, the officers of any corporation shall jointly and severally be subject to prosecution as being included within the term "person."

Preceding, following. The words "preceding" and "following" mean next before and next after, respectively.

Roadway. That portion of a street or highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a street or highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways the term "roadway" as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.

Similar provisions, V.A.C.S. art. 6701d, § 13(c).

Sidewalk. That portion of a street between the curblines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.

Similar provisions, V.A.C.S. art. 6701d, § 13(d).

Signature or subscription. The word "signature" or "subscription" shall include any symbol executed or adopted by a person with present intention to authenticate a writing.

Similar provisions, V.T.C.A., Government Code § 311.005(6).

Standard time. All hours of time mentioned in this Code refer to and shall be determined by Central Standard Time, or Central Daylight Saving Time, as the case may be, except that, if at any future time any different standard of time is established by the state for an area which includes this City, all such hours shall be determined by such officially proclaimed standard, so long as the same remains in effect.

State. The words "the state" or "this state" shall be construed to mean the State of Texas.

Street or highway. The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

Similar provisions, V.A.C.S. art. 6701d, § 13(a).

Tense. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.

Written or in writing. The words "written" or "in writing" shall be construed to include any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.

Similar provisions, V.T.C.A., Government Code § 311.005(11).

Year. The word "year" means twelve (12) consecutive months.

Similar provisions, V.T.C.A., Government Code § 311.005(12).