§ 1-3. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Code, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Advice and consent. Whenever the term "advice and consent" of the City Council is used in this Code, it means an affirmative vote of the majority of the entire City Council.

City. The term "the City" or "this City" means the City of Oxford, Georgia.

City Council or Council. The term "City Council" or "the Council" means the City Council of the City.

City officials; city officers. Whenever reference is made to officials, boards, commissions, departments, etc., by title only, i.e., "city clerk," "chief of police," etc., they shall be deemed to refer to the officials, boards, commissions and departments of the City of Oxford, Georgia.

County. The term "the county" or "this county" means Newton County, Georgia.

Court. The term "court" means the Municipal Court of the City.

Fee schedule or schedule of fees and charges. The term "fee schedule" or "schedule of fees and charges" means the official consolidated list of City fees and other charges adopted by the Council 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 City Council. A copy of the City fee schedule is available in the office of the City Clerk.

Governing authority, governing body. The term "governing authority" or "governing body" means the Mayor and City Council.

Judge or Recorder. The term "Judge" or "Recorder" means the Judge of the Municipal Court of the City.

Mayor. The term "Mayor" means the Mayor of the City.

Mayor and City Council. The term "Mayor and City Council" means the Mayor and City Council of the City.

Misdemeanor. The term "misdemeanor" means a violation of the state criminal law punishable by a fine not in excess of $1,000.00 or confinement in a county or other jail for a term not exceeding 12 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Municipality. The term "municipality" shall be construed as synonymous with the term "city," "town," or "municipal corporation."

Oath. The term "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 terms "affirm" and "affirmed" shall be equivalent to the terms "swear" or "sworn."

O.C.G.A. The abbreviation "O.C.G.A." means the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as amended.

Ordinance. The term "ordinance" means a legislative act of the municipal governing body of a general and permanent nature.

Owner. The term "owner," when applied to a building or to land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of such building or land.

Person. The term "person" includes a corporation, firm, agency, partnership, association, organization, government, and any other group acting as a unit, as well as an individual.

Personal property. The term "personal property" includes every specie of property except real property, as hereinafter defined.

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

Property. The term "property" means anything of value, including, but not limited to, real estate, tangible and intangible personal property, contract rights, services, choses in action, and other interests in or claims to wealth, admission or transportation tickets, captured or domestic animals, food and drink, and electric or other power.

Real property. The term "real property" includes lands, tenements, and hereditaments.

Reasonable time or notice. The term "reasonable time or notice" shall be deemed to mean only such time as may be necessary for the prompt performance of the act required.

Resolution. The term "resolution" means a legislative act of the municipal governing body of a special or temporary character.

Sidewalk. The term "sidewalk" means any portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of the pedestrians, but shall not include any unimproved areas between the curb line and improved walkways.

Signature or subscription. The term "signature" or "subscription" includes a mark intended as such when the person cannot write.

State. The term "state" or "this state" means the State of Georgia.

Street. The term "street" means and includes any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, viaduct or bridge, and the approach thereto, within the City.

Tenant or occupant . The term "tenant" or "occupant," when applied to a building or to land, includes any person holding a written or oral lease of, or who occupies the whole or a part of, such building or land, either alone or with others.

Week. The term "week" means seven calendar days.

Writing, written . The terms "writing" and "written" include printing and any other mode of representing words and letters.

Year. The term "year" means a calendar year.

(Code 1997, § 1-103)

State law reference

Statutory definitions and rules of construction, O.C.G.A. § 1-3-1 et seq.; construction of statutory definitions, O.C.G.A. § 1-3-2; general statutory definition, O.C.G.A. § 1-3-3.