§ 1-2. Definitions and rules of construction.

(a)

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

City. The term "the city" or "this city" shall mean the City of Russellville, Alabama.

City officials, officers and employees. Whenever reference is made to officials, boards, commissions, departments, etc., by title only, i.e., "mayor," "city clerk," "planning commission," "chief of police," or any other such designation, such references shall be deemed to be to the officials, boards, commissions, departments, etc., of the City of Russellville; and the powers and authority granted to them shall be deemed to be grants of such powers and authority to their respective duly designated subordinates.

Code. Whenever reference is made to "the Code" or "Code of Ordinances," it shall refer to the "Code of Ordinances, City of Russellville, Alabama."

Code of Alabama. Whenever reference is made to the "Code of Alabama" or the "Alabama Code" it shall mean the Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended, or any subsequent code of this state.

Computation of time. The time in which an act is to be done must be computed by excluding the first and including the last day; and if the last day is a Sunday or legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.

Corporation. The term "the corporation" shall mean the city as defined in this section.

Council. The term "council" or "city council" shall mean the city council of the City of Russellville, Alabama.

County. The term "county" or "this county" shall mean the County of Franklin, Alabama.

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

Joint authority. All terms giving joint authority to three or more persons or officers shall give such authority to a majority of such persons or officers, unless it is otherwise declared.

Month. The term "month" shall mean a calendar month.

Number. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural includes the singular number.

Oath. The term "oath" includes an affirmation.

Or, and. The term "or" may be read as "and" and the term "and" as "or," where the sense requires it.

Owner. The term "owner" shall include not only the owner of the whole, but any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, or joint tenant of the whole or a part of any property.

Pavement. The word "pavement" shall mean a strip of land in front of or on the sides of a house or lot of land, covered with brick, flat stone or other material, natural or artificial.

Person. The word "person" shall extend and be applied to firms, partnerships, corporations, associations, organizations, trustees, agents, and bodies politic, or any combination thereof, as well as to natural persons.

Personal property. The term "personal property" includes every species of property except real property, as defined in this section.

Property. The term "property" includes real, personal and mixed property.

Real property. The term "real property" includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.

Shall, may. The term "shall" is mandatory; the term "may" is permissive.

Sidewalk. The term "sidewalk" means a strip of land in front of or on the sides of a building or lot of land, lying between the property line and the street.

Signature or subscription. The term "signature" or "subscription" includes a mark when the person cannot write.

State. The term "state" means the State of Alabama.

Street. The term "street" includes any street, avenue, boulevard, road, alley, lane, viaduct and other public ways in the city and all parts thereof within the designated right-of-way.

Technical and nontechnical words. All words and phrases are to 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 are to be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.

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

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

Year. The word "year" means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.

(b)

Any word, term or expression otherwise defined within any chapter, or part of a chapter, shall have the meaning attached to it within that chapter or part of a chapter.