§ 1-2. Definitions and rules of construction.

In the construction of this Code and of all ordinances of the city, the following definitions and rules of construction shall be observed, unless they are inconsistent with the intent of the council or the context clearly requires otherwise:

Charter. The word "Charter" shall mean the Charter of the City of Jackson, Michigan, adopted November 3, 1914, and shall include any amendment to such Charter.

City. The word "city" shall denote the City of Jackson, Michigan.

City council. The words "city council" and "commission" shall mean the Council of the City of Jackson, Michigan.

Code. The expressions "Code" or "this Code" shall mean the Code of Ordinances, City of Jackson, Michigan, as designated in section 1-1, and as hereinafter modified by amendment, revision and by the adoption of new chapters, articles, divisions or sections.

Computation of time. The time within which an act is to be done, as provided in this Code or in any order issued pursuant to this Code, when expressed in days, shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last, except that if the last day is Sunday or a legal holiday it shall be excluded; and when the time is expressed in hours, the whole of Sunday or a legal holiday, from midnight to midnight, shall be excluded.

County. The term "the county" or "this county" shall mean the County of Jackson in the State of Michigan.

Director of police and fire services. Director of police and fire services shall be the person designated by the city manager to be in charge of the department of police and fire services, which shall include a police division and a fire division. Wherever the term "chief of police," "police chief," or "fire chief' is used in this Code, it shall mean the director of police and fire services or his/her designee.

Gender. Words denoting the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter genders.

General terms. A general term following a specific enumeration of terms is not to be limited to the class enumerated unless expressly so limited.

Joint authority. All words purporting to give joint authority to three (3) or more public officers or other persons, shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons unless it is otherwise expressly declared in the ordinance granting the authority.

MCL, MSA. The abbreviations "MCL" and "MSA" refer to the Michigan Compiled Laws and Michigan Statutes Annotated respectively, as amended.

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

Number. Words in the singular shall include the plural, and words in the plural shall include the singular.

Officer, employee, department, board, commission or other agency. Whenever any officer, employee, department, board, commission, or other agency is referred to by title only, such reference shall be construed as if followed by the words "of the City of Jackson, Michigan." Whenever, by the provisions of this Code, any officer, employee, department, board, commission or other city agency of the city is assigned any duty or empowered to perform any act or duty, reference to such officer, employee, department, board, commission or agency shall mean and include such officer, employee, department, board, commission or agency, or any deputy or authorized subordinate.

Person. The word "person" and its derivatives and the word "whoever" shall include a natural person, partnership, association, legal entity or a corporate body or any body of persons corporate or incorporate. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, the term "person" or "whoever" as applied to any unincorporated entity, shall mean the partners or members thereof, and as applied to corporations, the officers thereof.

Shall/may. Whenever the word "shall" appears in this Code it shall be considered mandatory and not directory, except as otherwise provided. "May" is permissive.

State. The term "the state" or "this state" shall be construed to mean the State of Michigan.

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

(Ord. No. 2012-31, § 2, 10-23-12)

State law reference

Rules of construction, MCL 8.3 et seq.