§ 1-3. Rules of construction.

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

Generally. 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 Athens in the County of Henderson and State of Texas.

City administrator, city secretary, chief of police or other city officers. The words "city administrator," "city secretary," "chief of police" or other city officers or departments shall be construed to mean the city administrator, city secretary, chief of police or such other municipal officers or departments, respectively, of the City of Athens, Texas.

Computation of time. Whenever a notice is required to be given or an act to be done 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.

Council. Whenever the term "council" or "this council" or "the council" is used, it shall mean the city council of the City of Athens, Texas.

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

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

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."

Official time standard. Whenever certain hours are named herein they shall mean standard time or daylight-saving time as may be in current use in the city.

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" shall extend and be applied to associations, corporations, firms, partnerships and bodies politic and corporate as well as to individuals.

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

Signature or subscription. The word "signature" or "subscription" shall include a mark when a person cannot write.

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

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

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" shall mean a calendar year.