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Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS

PRESENT:
Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier; Councillors Nil Doucet, Danny Hill, Carl Deveau, Nadine Comeau, and Brian Comeau
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Aimélie Comeau, and Communications Officer, Anique Dugas.
Presenters:
ABSENT:
Councillor Philippe Gaudet

1) Call to Order
Warden Yvon LeBlanc called the Council meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

2)  Adoption of the Agenda

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the proposed agenda be approved as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED          

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
None.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 May 15, 2024 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the minutes of the May 15, 2024, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 June 12, 2024 – Council-In-Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the minutes of the June 12, 2024, Council in Committee Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

7) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Yvon LeBlanc
May 16 – Attend a meeting of the CDÉNÉ to restart the recruitment process for a new Executive Director.

May 25 – Attended Clare Search and Rescue’s 40th anniversary banquet.

May 28 – Attended a meeting of the CDÉNÉ’s Audit Committee to complete a review of the organization’s financial statements.

May 28 – Attended a meeting of the Villa Acadienne.

May 29 – Attended a meeting of the Villa Acadienne’s Governance Committee, in preparation for the AGM.

May 31 – Attended a meeting of the CDÉNÉ Board of Directors.

June 6 to 10 – Attended the FCM Annual Conference.

June 12 – Met with Penny Day, Executive Director of the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia.

June 14 – Attended the raising of the Pride Flag at the municipal office.

June 17 – Attended a provincial funding announcement for 3 infrastructure projects in the counties of Digby and Annapolis. The Meteghan sidewalk project was among these 3 projects.

June 18 – Attended the Wentworth Park reopening ceremony.

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Carl Deveau acknowledged Anne Comeau from Panier d’Art for her 45 years of service and dedication. In light of this accomplishment, Councillor Deveau asked that the Municipality issue a certificate of recognition. Council agreed.

9) Correspondence
9.1 Warden Linda Gregory – Chair, Waste Check
The CAO read a letter from Warden Linda Gregory, Chair of Waste Check. (See attached)

9.2 Warden Penny Smith – Municipality of Shelburne
The CAO read a letter from Warden Penny Smith from the Municipality of Shelburne. (See attached)

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Brian Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, requesting an expansion of the qualifying expenditures under the Canada Community-Building Fund.
MOTION CARRIED

9.3 Maia Mathieu – Executive Director, Tri-County Women’s Centre
The CAO read a letter from Maia Mathieu, Executive Director of the Tri-County Women’s Centre. (See attached)

10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of June. (See attached)

11) Committee Reports
11.1 Building Permits Report – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permits report for the month of May.

May 2024

Year	Permits	Construction Value	Year to Date
2023	88	$ 1,485,280	$ 11,347,290
2024	82	$ 2,345,775	$ 6,205,235

11.2 Waste Check – Councillor Carl Deveau
A meeting of Waste Check was held in June of 2024. At this meeting, the issue of brush cutting along secondary roads was discussed at length (as previously referenced in the June 11, 2024, letter from the Chair of Waste Check, Warden Linda Gregory).

12)  New Business
12.1 Motion to Accept Proposal – Phase 2 Hydrogeological and Surface Water Assessment
The Municipality of Clare is currently updating the monitoring programs for its Transfer Station and

C & D Debris Disposal Site to comply with new provincial legislation. EXP. has been hired to facilitate this exercise. To meet these new regulations, and in doing so renew its approval to operate, the Municipality must complete a Phase 2 Hydrogeological and Surface Water Assessment of it’s C & D Debris Disposal Site. EXP. has provided a bid of $8,500 plus HST to complete this assessment. Whereas the Municipality has already budgeted for this contingency as part of its 2024-25 operational budget, and given that it has already engaged with EXP. on the related monitoring program updates, the CAO is recommending Council accept the proposal put forward by EXP. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposal from EXP., in the amount of $8,500 plus HST, for the completion of a Phase 2 Hydrogeological and Surface Water Assessment of the Municipality’s construction and demolition debris disposal site, in support of its application for a renewed operating approval from the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change.
MOTION CARRIED

12.2 Motion to Approve Funding Request – Mavillette Seniors Club
The Mavillette Seniors Club has applied to the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations Program for assistance with the purchase of new oil tank. The application is consistent with the terms and conditions of the program and as such, it is the CAO’s recommendation that Council approve $2,700 in response to this funding request. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the funding request from the Mavillette Seniors Club, in the amount of $2,700, for the purchase of a new oil tank and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations Program.
MOTION CARRIED

12.3 Motion to Award Tender – Parking Lot, Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park
The parking lot at the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park needs grading and ditching. Funds for this required maintenance have been included in the Municipality’s 2024-25 Operational Budget. To this end, an invitational tender was issued to three local contractors. Following a review of the bids, it is the CAO’s recommendation that Council accept the proposal from Deveau’s Dirt Works Ltd. in the amount of $1,735 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposal from Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd., in the amount of $1,735 plus HST, for needed sloping and ditching of the parking lot at the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park.
MOTION CARRIED

12.4 Motion to Approve Funding Request – Résonances, Film Project (Phil Comeau)
The CAO was approached by Phil Comeau, a highly celebrated Acadian film producer, regarding his upcoming film project entitled Résonances. Résonances will focus on the CMA 2024 and in doing so, highlight the Municipality of Clare. The total budget for the film is $72,000, of which the Municipality is being asked to contribute $5,000. As with many of Mr. Comeau’s other highly acclaimed projects (including a similar film celebrating the CMA 2019), Résonances is expected to reach audiences beyond the reach of the Municipality’s traditional marketing collateral. For this reason, the CAO views the support of this film as a unique promotional opportunity and is recommending the $5,000 contribution.  Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a funding contribution of $5,000 to Phil Comeau, to aid with the production of his film project entitled Résonances, focusing on the CMA 2024 and in doing so, promoting the Municipality of Clare.
MOTION CARRIED

12.5 Motion to Authorize Equipment Purchase – Kayaks
Five of the Municipality’s kayaks were recently stolen. These kayaks are used extensively during the summer months as part of the Municipality’s recreational programming, as well as its equipment loan program. In light of this unfortunate occurrence, the CAO is requesting incremental funding in the amount of $2,500 plus HST, to purchase five new kayaks. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the purchase of five new kayaks for the Municipality’s Recreation Department, in the amount of $2,500 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

12.6 Motion to Send Letter of Support – Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse
The Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse has asked for a letter in support of its request to Employment and Social Development Canada, for funding assistance to aid with the delivery of employment assistance services in official language minority communities. The CAO is recommending Council grant the request and issue the letter. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse in support of its request to Employment and Social Development Canada, for funding assistance to aid with the delivery of employment assistance services in official language minority communities.
MOTION CARRIED

13) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
13.1 Contract Negotiations
13.2 Personnel Matters

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare transfer ownership of the lands located at 15 Cottreau Road, Little Brook, NS (PID 30033575) to Maltais Holdings Ltd. in exchange for a housing development on said lands consisting of a minimum of 20 housing units (with the possibility of 10 or more housing units).
MOTION CARRIED

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare provide $12,581 to the St. Bernard Fire Department for the purchase of ten high-volume water hoses (100 feet each) and that these funds be treated as an advance against the Department’s 2025-26 and 2026-27 capital funding allocations.
MOTION CARRIED

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare purchase a portion of the lands located at 41 Belliveau Cove Branch Road, Belliveaus Cove NS (PID 30000814) from Raymond and Constance Bernstein, in the amount of $6,800, for the purpose of expanding the Joseph and Marie Dugas Park, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

14) Date and Time of the next Regular Council Meeting
Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:42 pm.

Submitted by:
Aimélie Comeau
Executive Assistant