Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook
PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, Steven Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Director of Finance, Christien Deveau, Communications Officer, Francis Robichaud, Fire Services / REMO Coordinator, Yvon Thidodeau, and Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks.
Presenters: None
ABSENT: Councillor Réanne Evans
1) Call to Order
The Deputy Warden called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) Approval of the Agenda
The CAO asked that the following item be added to the agenda:
- 7.9 Community Flagpole Request – Access Awareness Week
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted addition.
MOTION CARRIED
3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None.
4) Presentations
None.
5) Staff Reports
5.1 Fire Service / REMO Update – Yvon Thibodeau, Fire Services / REMO Coordinator
The Fire Services/REMO Coordinator provided an overview (
see attached) on the progress made thus far in:
- Implementing the recommendations put forward in the Municipality`s Fire Services Review.
- Complying with the requirements of the Province`s recently introduced Act to Provide Support for Fire Protection Services.
- Establishing and mobilizing the new Digby County REMO.
6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.
7) NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Capital Budget 2026-27
The CAO presented a working draft of the Municipality’s capital budget for fiscal 2026-2027. Highlights included continued investments in the Clare Health Centre, Joseph and Marie Dugas Park, and wastewater infrastructure, while also funding necessary upgrades and/or equipment purchases for the Municipal Office, the Transfer Station and the Municipality`s Public Works Department.
Whereas the CAO was still awaiting confirmation on a few capital items, no motion to recommend was requested of Council.
7.2 Fire Departments – Capital Funding 2026-27
The CAO presented the proposed 2026-2027 capital funding allocations for each of the seven fire departments within the Municipality (see attached). The total amount available this year for equipment, as generated by the uniform $0.05 area rate, is $252,390. Council agreed with the proposed distribution of funds and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the proposed 2026-2027 Volunteer Fire Department Capital Funding Expenditures as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
7.3 Municipal Property Tax Write-Off – AAN #11015964, #08506620, and #00866113
Rather than being exempt of municipal property taxes, three municipal parcels of land were mistakenly classified by PVSC as commercial and charged accordingly. Doing so incorrectly increased the value of the Municipality’s assessment roll by $150.04. In order to remedy the problem, the Municipality must write-off this amount via motion of Council. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing off a total of $150.04 in municipal property taxes, broken down as follows:
- AAN #11015964 - $32.67
- AAN #08506620 - $71.39
- AAN #00866113 - $45.98
MOTION CARRIED
7.4 Meeting with the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries
The Warden and CAO have been invited to a meeting with the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries. The meeting will be held in Yarmouth on May 22, 2026. At the request of Council, the Warden will specifically discuss the concerns raised by residents surrounding the elver fishery and the lack of access to the Saulnierville Wharf with the Minister, as well as other shared concerns regarding the lobster fishery.
7.5 Alertable – Emergency Communication System
At the April 16, 2026, REMO Advisory Committee Meeting, it was recommended that municipal representatives approach their respective Councils regarding the use of Alertable as their Emergency Communication system. The platform is already being used by both the Province of NS and the Town of Digby. Furthermore, both the CAO and the Fire Services / REMO Coordinator for the Municipality of Clare are recommending its use. The cost of the software has already been budgeted in the Municipality’s 2026-27 operating budget, in anticipation of the need for such a system. Council agreed with this recommendation and asked that this be conveyed to the REMO Advisory Committee.
7.6 Weymouth Water Source
The Province no longer considers a drought as an isolated, one-off event but rather as the new norm. As such, this will require both the Province and municipalities to plan for this eventuality and introduce measures to increase access to water and mitigate risk. With this in mind, at the April 16, 2026, REMO Advisory Committee Meeting, municipal representatives were asked to speak with their respective Councils and inquire as to their willingness to cost share on the preliminary engineering, design, and regulatory costs of establishing a community water source in the Weymouth area. Council agreed.
Whereas the specific costs for these services are not yet known, no motion to recommend was requested of Council.
7.7 Community Asset Donation Policy
Mrs. Helika Adams approached the Municipality wanting to donate a memorial bench and place it in Wentworth Park. The CAO is recommending Council accept this donation with the understanding that a community asset donation policy will be developed moving forward. In this instance, the design and the placement of the bench will be coordinated with staff. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the request from Mrs. Helika Adams to donate a memorial bench to the Municipality, for placement at the Wentworth Park.
MOTION CARRIED
7.8 Mental Health Week – May 4th to 10th, 2026
In recognition of Mental Health Week (May 4th to 10th), the Municipality has posted documentation and a toolkit online to build awareness and provide resources to the public. To further underscore this important subject, the municipal office will be lit up in green until May 10th.
7.9 Community Flagpole Request – Access Awareness Week
A request was put forward by municipal staff to fly the Access Awareness Flag on the community flagpole from June 1st to June 6th, 2026, in recognition of Access Awareness Week. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Warden Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend flying the Access Awareness Flag on the community flagpole from June 1st to June 6th, 2026, in recognition of Access Awareness Week.
MOTION CARRIED
8) Questions and Comments from the Public
Louanne Dugas thanked Yvon Thibodeau for his efforts. Mrs. Dugas has training in crisis intervention and disaster relief and kindly offered her services if the need arose.
9) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics Discussed:
9.1 Contract Negotiations
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
10) Date and Time of the Next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on June 10, 2026, at 7:00 pm.
11) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Warden Yvon LeBlanc to adjourn the meeting at 9:42 pm.
Submitted by
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant