§ 1-2. Definitions and rules of construction.

(a)

It is the legislative intent of the city council, in adopting this Code, that all provisions and sections of this Code be liberally construed to protect and preserve the peace, health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the city. In the construction of this Code and any amendment thereto, the following rules and definitions shall be observed, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

Code. The terms "this Code" and "Code" shall mean the Code of Ordinances, City of Dexter, Michigan, as designated in section 1-1.

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 if the time period expires on a Sunday or legal holiday.

County. The terms "the county" and "this county" shall mean the County of Washtenaw in the State of Michigan.

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

MCL. The abbreviation "MCL" shall mean the Michigan Compiled Laws, as amended.

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.

Oath, affirmation, sworn, affirmed. The term "oath" shall be construed to include the term "affirmation" in all cases where by law an affirmation may be substituted for an oath; and in like cases the term "sworn" shall be construed to include the term "affirmed."

Officer, department, board, commission or other agency. Whenever any officer, 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 Dexter, Michigan." Whenever by the provisions of this Code any officer of the city is assigned any duty or empowered to perform any act or duty, reference to such officer shall mean and include such officer or his deputy or authorized subordinate.

Person. The term "person" includes firms, joint ventures, partnerships, corporations, clubs and all associations or organizations of natural persons, either incorporated or unincorporated, howsoever operating or named, and whether acting by themselves or by a servant, agent or fiduciary, and all federal, state and local agencies of government, as well as natural persons, and includes all legal representatives, heirs, successors and assigns thereof.

Public Acts. All references to "Public Acts" are references to the Public Acts of Michigan. Any reference to a public act, whether by act number or by short title is a reference to the act as amended.

Public place. The term "public place" shall mean any place to or upon which the public resorts or travels, whether such place is owned or controlled by the city or any agency of the state, or is a place to or upon which the public resorts or travels by custom, or by invitation, express or implied.

Sidewalk. The term "sidewalk" shall mean that portion of a street between the curblines or lateral lines and the right-of-way lines which is intended for the use of pedestrians.

State. The terms "the state" and "this state" shall be construed to mean the State of Michigan.

Street, highway, and alley. The terms "street," "highway" and "alley" shall mean the entire width subject to an easement for public right-of-way, or owned in fee by the city, county or state, or every way or place, of whatever nature, whenever any part thereof is open to the use of the traveling public. The term "alley" shall mean any such way or place providing a secondary means of ingress and egress from a property.

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

City. The term "city" shall mean the City of Dexter, Michigan.

City council. The terms "city council" and "council" shall mean the City Council of the City of Dexter.

(b)

Any word or term not defined in this Code shall be considered to be defined in accordance with its common or standard definition.