Source: https://ecode360.com/26792395
Timestamp: 2020-05-26 08:03:30
Document Index: 640723874

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', 'Art. 23', '§ 2']

Town of Forest Heights, MD General Provisions
§ 1.1 Adoption of Code.
§ 1.2 Code supersedes prior ordinances.
§ 1.3 Rules of construction and definitions.
§ 1.4 Catchlines of sections; references to sections, tables of contents and footnotes.
§ 1.5 Amendments to Code.
§ 1.6 Code book to remain on file and to be kept current.
§ 1.7 Exemption or adoption of Prince George's County ordinances.
§ 1.8 Severability of Code provisions.
§ 1.9 Repeal of ordinances.
§ 1.10 Legislation saved from repeal or waiver.
§ 1.11 Town Seal.
§ 1.12 Unpaid fees and penalties to constitute a lien.
[HISTORY: Readopted, amended and approved by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Forest Heights 5-6-2013 by Ord. No. 01-013. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Section 1.1 Adoption of Code.
Section 1.2 Code supersedes prior ordinances.
Section 1.3 Rules of construction and definitions.
Section 1.4 Catchlines of sections; references to sections, tables of contents and footnotes.
Section 1.5 Amendments to Code.
Section 1.6 Code book to remain on file and to be kept current.
Section 1.7 Exemption or adoption of Prince George's County ordinances.
Section 1.8 Severability of Code provisions.
Section 1.9 Repeal of ordinances.
Section 1.10 Legislation saved from repeal or waiver.
Section 1.11 Town Seal.
Section 1.12 Unpaid fees and penalties to constitute a lien.
The ordinances of the Town of Forest Heights of a general and permanent nature, as may hereafter be adopted from time to time by the Town Council shall be codified and organized into articles and shall collectively be known as the "Ordinance Code of the Town of Forest Heights."
Ordinances hereafter adopted by the Town Council and incorporated into the Town code shall supersede all other general and permanent ordinances upon the same subjects enacted prior thereto, except to the extent such prior enactments are expressly saved from repeal or are declared to be continued in force.
In the construction of this code and of all Town ordinances, the rules and definitions set out in this section shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Town Council. The rules of construction and definitions set out herein shall not be applied to any section of this code which shall contain any express provisions excluding such construction, or where the subject matter or context of such section may be repugnant thereto.
In the interpretation and application of any provisions of this code, such provisions shall be held to be the minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. Where any provision of this code imposes greater restrictions upon the subject matter than the general provision imposed by the code, the provision imposing the greater restriction or regulation shall be deemed to be controlling.
All general provisions, terms, phrases and expressions contained in this code shall be liberally construed in order that the true intent and meaning of the Town council may be fully carried out.
Unless a specific provision of this code states otherwise, the time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first and including the last day; if the last day is a Sunday or legal holiday, it shall be excluded. When the period of time allowed is more than seven days, intermediate Sundays and holidays shall be considered as other days; but if the period of time allowed is seven days or less, intermediate Sundays and holidays shall not be counted in computing the period of time.
Words importing one gender include and apply to the other gender as well.
The word "may" is permissive. Words and phrases shall be construed 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. Words used in the singular include the plural and the plural includes the singular number. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.
The following words, phrases and terms shall have the meaning set forth herein:
The terms "Charter" or "Town Charter" shall mean the Charter of the Town of Forest Heights.
The word "Code" means the Forest Heights Ordinance Code as designated in Section 1.1 of this Code.
The words "the county" or "this county" shall mean Prince George's County, Maryland.
The word "oath" shall be construed to include an affirmation or declaration 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."
The word "owner," applied to any property, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of such property.
The word "person" shall include a corporation, company, partnership, association or society as well as a natural person.
Personal property includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidence of debt.
The words "preceding" and "following" shall mean next before and next after, respectively.
Real property shall include lands, tenements and hereditaments.
The word "sidewalk" shall mean that portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property intended for the use of pedestrians.
Signature or subscription includes a mark when the person cannot write, his name being written near it and witnessed by a person who writes his own name as witness.
The words, "the State" or "this State" shall be construed to mean the State of Maryland.
The word "street" shall include any public way, road, highway, avenue, alley and lane within the Town.
The words "tenant" and "occupant," applied to a building or land, shall include any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
The terms "the Town," "this Town," or "Town" shall mean the Town of Forest Heights, Maryland, a municipal corporation of that name chartered by the State. When appropriate such terms shall also refer to the legal boundaries of such municipal corporation.
The term "Town Code" shall mean the "Ordinance Code of the Town of Forest Heights."
The word "writing" shall include printing.
The catchlines of the several sections of this code printed after the section numbers are intended as mere catchwords to indicate the contents of the sections and shall not be deemed or taken to be titles of such sections, nor as any part of such sections.
All references in this Code to articles or sections are to articles or sections of this code unless otherwise specified.
The tables of contents using the aforementioned catchlines are intended for organizational purposes only and shall not be deemed or taken to be titles of such sections, nor as any part of such sections.
Any footnotes included throughout the Town Code are provided for legislative history purposes only.
Any and all additions, amendments or supplements to the Code, when passed and adopted in such form as to indicate the intent of the Council to make them a part thereof, shall be deemed to be incorporated into such Code so that reference to the "Ordinance Code of the Town of Forest Heights" shall be understood and intended to include such additions and amendments. Whenever such additions, amendments or supplements to the Code shall be adopted, they shall thereafter be printed and, as provided hereunder, inserted in the loose-leaf or post binder book containing the certified copy of said Code required by Section 1.6 as amendments and supplements thereto.
A certified copy of the Forest Heights Ordinance Code, impressed with the seal of the Town, shall remain on file in the office of the Town Clerk, to be made available to persons desiring to examine the same during regular Town business hours for so long as the Code is in effect.
It shall be the duty of the Town Clerk, or someone authorized and directed by the Town Clerk, to keep the certified copy of the book containing the Code required to be filed in the Clerk's office for the use of the public current. All changes in said Code and all ordinances adopted subsequent to the effective date of this codification, which shall be adopted specifically as part of the Code, shall, when finally adopted, be included therein by reference until such changes or new ordinances are printed as supplements to said code books, at which time such supplements shall be inserted therein.
Pursuant to Md. Ann. Code, Art. 23A, § 2B and unless the provisions of this Code expressly state otherwise, the Town is generally exempt from all legislation heretofore or hereafter enacted by the County relating to any subject upon which the Town has been heretofore or is hereafter granted legislative authority to act, either by public general law or by the Town Charter, and upon which subject the Town in fact acts. Legislation of Prince George's County pertaining to a subject as to which the Town has not acted shall be in effect in the Town unless and until the Town specifically exempts itself therefrom.
Whenever, in this Code, the Town adopts or incorporates by reference, or otherwise subjects itself or persons within its boundaries to the ordinances or regulations of Prince George's County, Maryland, it is the intention of the Town Council to adopt any amendments that might subsequently be enacted by the Prince George's County Council, such that the most current version of such ordinance or regulation then in effect in the unincorporated areas of Prince George's County shall be effective within the Town.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances of a general and permanent nature adopted and in force on the date of the adoption of this ordinance[1] or the date of adoption of any subsequent ordinance incorporating provisions into the Town Code that are inconsistent with the ordinances in the Town Code are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency as of the effective date of the ordinance with which they are inconsistent.
Editor's Note: The ordinance referenced is Ord. No. 02-10, adopted 4-5-2010.
The adoption of this Code and repeal of ordinances provided for in Section 1.9 of this ordinance shall not affect the following ordinances, rights and obligations, which are hereby expressly saved from repeal or waiver:
Any offense or act committed or done before the effective date of this ordinance in violation of any legislative provisions or any penalty, punishment or forfeiture which may result therefrom.
Any ordinance or resolution appropriating money or transferring funds, promising or guaranteeing the payment of money or authorizing the issuance and delivery of any bond or other instruments or evidence of the Town's indebtedness.
The levy or imposition of taxes, assessments, fees or charges.
Ordinances establishing the amount and manner of payment of salaries or compensation of officers and employees, establishing workdays and working hours of certain employees and providing for holidays and vacations for employees and keeping of employment records.
All resolutions, including charter amendment resolutions and annexation resolutions.
The Town of Forest Heights seal as described in Subsection B is the Seal of the Town.
The Seal depicts a thick, dashed black oval upon a white ground bearing the words "The Town of Forest Heights" in the upper half of the semi-circle and "Prince George's County, MD" in the lower half of the semi-circle. Within the Seal's interior is a complete inner circle of arrow heads outlined in black with their tips pointing in a clockwise manner. In the middle of the Seal's face printed vertically from top to bottom are the words "Corporate 1949 Seal" with the two outer words bending in a semi-circular fashion.
The Seal of the Town is for official use by the Town and its authorized representative only.
The duly elected Mayor and Town Council and the duly appointed Town Clerk shall be authorized to make attestations using the Town of Forest Heights Seal.
No person shall use any seal, insignia, envelope or any other format that simulates the Town of Forest Heights Seal.
The misuse or unauthorized use of the Town Seal is a municipal infraction subject to the maximum penalty and enforcement provisions of the Town Charter.
Fees and penalties established in the Town Code which are not paid as required therein to the Town shall be included in the non-payor's real property tax bill and shall be collected as Town taxes are collected and the charges shall be due and payable at the time of payment of the tax bill. In the case of a misdemeanor or municipal infraction, the fine shall not be deemed due and owing the Town until such time as judgment or order therefor is issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. Such charges shall constitute a lien on the non-payor's real property.