§ 1-2. Definitions and principles of construction.
The following rules or meanings shall be applied in the construction and interpretation of ordinances codified in this Code unless such application would be clearly inconsistent with the plain meaning or intent of the ordinances:
Acts by agents. When an ordinance requires an act be done by a person who may be legally performed by an authorized agent of that principal person, the requirement shall be construed to include all acts performed by such agents.
Clerk, treasurer, clerk-treasurer. Reference to the village clerk or the village treasurer shall be deemed to refer to the village clerk-treasurer when those offices are combined and filled by one person. References to the clerk-treasurer, if the offices are not combined and filled by one person, shall be deemed to refer to the clerk or to the treasurer depending upon which of those officers has authority or duty over the subject matter to which the reference refers.
Code and Code of Ordinances. The terms "Code" and "Code of Ordinances," when used in any section of this Code, refer to this Code unless the context of the section clearly indicates otherwise.
Computation of time. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by this Code, the day of the act or event from which the period of time begins to run shall not be included, but the last day of the period shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday. If the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays shall be excluded in the computation. The term "legal holiday" means any statewide legal holiday specified by state law.
State Law reference— Computation of time for state procedures, Wis. Stats. § 990.001(4); legal holidays, Wis. Stats. § 995.20.
County. The term "county" means Langlade County, Wisconsin.
Delegation of authority. Whenever a provision appears requiring the head of a department or other officer of the village to do some act or perform some duty, it shall be construed to authorize such department head or officer to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to the required act or perform the required duty unless the terms of the provision designate otherwise.
Department, board, agency. The name or title of the term "department," "board" or "agency," unless otherwise specifically stated otherwise, shall be read as though the term "of the Village of White Lake, Wisconsin," were added thereto.
Fee schedule or schedule of fees and charges. The term "fee schedule" or "schedule of fees and charges" means the official consolidated list maintained in the village clerk's office that lists rates for utility or other public enterprises, fees of any nature, deposit amounts and various charges as determined from time to time by the village board.
Fine. The term "fine" shall be the equivalent of the term "forfeiture," and vice versa.
Gender. Use has been made of masculine pronouns in this Code solely for the sake of brevity. Unless specifically stated to the contrary, this Code is gender neutral and words in this Code referring to the masculine gender are also to be construed to apply to females, and vice versa.
State Law reference— Gender, Wis. Stats. § 990.001(2).
General rule. All words and phrases shall be construed according to their plain meaning in common usage. However, words or phrases with a technical or special meaning shall be understood and construed according to that technical or special meaning if such is the intent of the ordinances.
Governing authority, governing body. The term "governing authority" or "governing body" means the village board of White Lake, Wisconsin.
Joint authority. All words purporting to give a joint authority to three or more village officers or employees shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons.
State Law reference— Similar provisions, Wis. Stats. § 990.001(8).
Law. The term "law" means and denotes applicable federal law, the state constitution and statutes, this Code, ordinances and resolutions of the county, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations that may be promulgated thereunder.
May. The term "may" is to be construed as being permissive.
Nontechnical and technical words. Words and phrases shall be constructed 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 law shall be construed and understood according to such meaning.
Ordinance. The term "ordinance" means a legislative act of the village board of a general and permanent nature.
Person. The term "person" means any of the following entities: natural persons, corporations, partnerships, associations, bodies politic or any other entity of any kind which is capable of being sued.
State Law reference— Person, Wis. Stats. § 990.01(26).
Public place. The term "public place" means any place subject to the primary control of any public agency, including but not limited to any park, street, public way, cemetery, schoolyard or adjacent open space and any lake or stream.
Resolution. The term "resolution" means a legislative act of the county governing authority of a special or temporary character.
Shall. The term "shall" is mandatory.
Singular and plural. Every word in this Code referring to the singular number only shall also be construed to apply to several persons or things, and every word in this Code referring to a plural number shall also be construed to apply to one person or thing.
State. The term "the state" or "this state" means the State of Wisconsin.
Statute. The term "statute," unless otherwise specifically stated, refers to the indicated portion of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Tense. The use of any verb in the present tense shall not preclude the interpretation of the verb in the future tense where appropriate.
Village. The term "village" means the Village of White Lake, Wisconsin.
Village board, board of trustees, board. The term "village board," "board of trustees" or "board" means the village board of trustees.
Will. The term "will" is to be construed as being mandatory.
Wisconsin Administrative Code, Wis. Admin. Code. The term "Wisconsin Administrative Code" and its abbreviation as "Wis. Admin. Code" means the Wisconsin Administrative Code as of the adoption of this Code, as amended or renumbered from time to time.
Wisconsin Statutes and Wis. Stats. The term "Wisconsin Statutes" and its abbreviation "Wis. Stats." means the Wisconsin Statutes, as amended.
State Law reference— Definitions and rules of construction, Wis. Stats. §§ 990.001, 990.01.
(Prior Code, § 17.01)