Decision 2239M – County of Riverside

Where the language of a statutory provision is susceptible of two constructions, one of which, in application, will render it reasonable, fair and harmonious with its manifest purpose, and another which would be productive of absurd consequences, the former construction will be adopted. The court has applied this principle to the interpretation of a collective bargaining agreement so it is appropriate to apply this principle as well to an ERR, which was arrived at after the parties have consulted with one another, and is therefore sufficiently similar to an MOU.