Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm
PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet, Councillors, Danny Hill, Hector Thibault, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, Eric Pothier and Yvon LeBlanc.
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr; Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff, and Communications Officer, Amy Paradis
Presenters: None
ABSENT:
1) Call to Order
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) (a) Approval of the Agenda
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the proposed agenda be approved as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
(b) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
Warden LeBlanc asked for any declarations of conflict of interest.
None declared
3) Presentation
None.
4) Staff Reports
4.1 Financial Report – Ginette Cheff, Director of Finance
The Director of Finance provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position.
(See attached)
5) Business arising from Previous Meetings
5.1 Upcoming CRA Changes to Council Honorariums
The Director of Finance presented the following four suggestions with regards to the changes in taxation to Councillor honorariums, as put forward by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM):
1) Compensating salaries to the full amount
2) Compensating salaries with a partial amount
3) Expanded expense policies
4) No action
An email will be sent to Council highlighting the potential impacts of these changes to their individual honorariums and to the Municipality. Prior to rendering its decision, Council would like to see how other municipalities are moving forward on this issue. The changes imposed by CRA will take effect January 1, 2019.
5.2 Letter Regarding Offshore Drilling
Both Lunenburg and Shelburne have called upon the Province of Nova Scotia to conduct a full and independent public inquiry into the pros and cons of oil industry exploration in offshore Nova Scotia. Given the importance of the fishing industry to the Municipality of Clare, local fishermen are requesting Council do the same by way of a formal letter. The call for an independent inquiry is consistent with Council’s position on the subject and is in keeping with letters it has already issued on this matter. Council passed the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the Province of Nova Scotia asking them to conduct a full and independent public inquiry into the pros and cons of oil industry exploration in offshore Nova Scotia.
MOTION CARRIED
6) New Business
6.1 Roofing of Storage Building next to Clare Health Centre
The RFP for roofing of the storage building next to Clare Health Centre closed on October 29, 2018. Shep-Com Construction Ltd. was the only bidder at $5,797 plus HST. Given the small size of the roof in question, Council felt the price was high and opted not to award the contract at this time. The CAO will confirm the condition of the roof with the Municipality’s Building Inspector and if it is not deemed urgent, the RFP will be re-issued in the new fiscal year.
6.2 Road Safety Concerns – Highway 1, Saulnierville
Following a recent vehicular accident on Route 1 in Saulnierville, concerns have been expressed regarding the proximity of the parking curbs of certain commercial establishments to the main road. More specifically, trucks sometimes back right up to the curb, placing them dangerously close to oncoming traffic and/or causing poor visibility. As the Municipality does not own the road in question, it is suggested that a letter be written to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) and local MLA Gordon Wilson asking them to formally look into this matter. Council passed the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend sending a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal asking them to complete a study of a section of Highway 1 in Saulnierville due to the potential road safety concerns stemming from the proximity of the parking curbs of certain commercial establishments to the main road.
MOTION CARRIED
6.3 Funding Application - L’Union des pécheurs des Maritimes “UPM” Local 9
Council received a funding application from ‘‘l’Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes (UPM)” Local 9 for assistance with the purchase of signs promoting the risks to the fishing industry from offshore exploration activities. Council passed the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding a grant in the amount of $200 to ‘‘l’Union des pêcheurs des Maritimes (UPM)” Local 9 to assist with the purchase of signs.
MOTION CARRIED
7) Questions and Comments from the Public
None
8) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics discussed:
8.1 Cultural Hub
8.2 Clare Veterans Centre
8.3 Dangerous and Unsightly
8.4 Human Resources
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the tender for the renovations to the lower hall at the Clare Veterans Centre to Kevin Comeau Construction Ltd. in the amount of $29,545.00 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the tender for the sprung floor, in the lower hall at the Clare Veterans Centre, to Kevin Comeau Construction Ltd. in the amount of $28,361.61 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED
9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on December 5, 2018 at 7:00 pm.
10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm.
Submitted by
Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant