§ 80.002. Interpretation and construction of terms.

(a)

Interpretation. In the interpretation and application of this Ordinance, all provisions shall be considered to be minimum requirements and shall be construed liberally to achieve the purposes of this Ordinance. This Ordinance shall not be deemed to limit, repeal, or abrogate any other powers or authorities of the Village of Godfrey under any other ordinance of the Village, the laws of the State of Illinois, or any law of the United States. It shall also not be deemed to abrogate or repeal any other ordinance of the Village of Godfrey or any statute or regulation of the State of Illinois or the United States regarding signage or sign control. In any circumstance where the requirements of this Ordinance differ from the requirements of any other applicable ordinance, statute or regulation, the more stringent requirement shall prevail, and this Ordinance shall be administered in a manner which is consistent with the other zoning, subdivision, and land use ordinances of the Village of Godfrey. The standards set forth in this Ordinance have been established in accordance with and to implement and carry out the Comprehensive Plan of the Village of Godfrey.

(b)

Construction of terms.

(1)

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the terms used in this Ordinance shall have the meaning ascribed to them in section 80.003; terms which are not defined in section 80.003 shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in the zoning, subdivision, and building code ordinances applicable to the Village of Godfrey; any term not defined in section 80.003 or in the zoning, subdivision, and building code ordinances of the Village of Godfrey, shall have the definition ascribed to it in the New Illustrated Book of Development Definitions (1993 Edition). Any term which is not defined by any of the foregoing sources shall have the ordinary and common meaning ascribed to such terms, unless the context would clearly require otherwise.

(2)

For purposes of this Ordinance, the following rules of construction shall apply:

(A)

Tense: Words used in the present tense include the future tense.

(B)

Singular and plural: Words used in the singular number include the plural number and the plural number includes the singular number, unless the context of the particular usage clearly indicates otherwise.

(C)

Mandatory meaning: The words "shall", "will", and "must" are mandatory in nature implying an obligation or duty to comply with the particular requirement or provision.

(D)

Gender: Words used in the male gender include the female gender.

(E)

Days: Any reference to days shall mean calendar days, unless otherwise specified.

(F)

References: Any reference to a section shall mean a section of this Ordinance, unless otherwise specified.

(G)

The word "person" means any individual, firm, association, corporate body or other entity.

(H)

A general term which follows or is followed by an enumeration of specific terms shall not be limited to the enumerated class of terms, unless expressly stated.

(Ord. No. 04-2012, 3-6-2012)