Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Réanne Evans, Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, Steven Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Director of Finance, Christien Deveau, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, and Communications Officer, Francis Robichaud
Presenters:
ABSENT:

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

2) Approval of the Agenda
The Warden asked that the following additions be made to the agenda:

• 7.4 Community Well – Salmon River Firehall
• 7.5 Landscaping – Clare Health Centre

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted additions.
MOTION CARRIED

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Staff Reports  
5.1 Financial Update – Christien Deveau, Director of Finance
The Director of Finance provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position. (See attached)

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

7) NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Parking Lot – Dargie Cove Road
As part of its ongoing beach access project, the Municipality is looking to establish a parking lot at the end of the Dargie Cove Road. The cost to build the parking lot has been quoted at $9,300 plus HST. Whereas the proposed parking would be located on private land, it is conditional upon a signed, long-term lease agreement with the property owners. To this end, a lease agreement has already been drafted and presented to the owners for review. Discussions to date have been positive. To continue advancing this project in a timely manner, it is the recommendation of the CAO that the Municipality accept the aforementioned quote of $9,300 plus HST for the parking lot, conditional upon a signed lease agreement between the Municipality and the property owners. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:   

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend accepting the quote from Deveau’s Dirtworks for the parking lot at the end of Dargie Cove Road, in the amount of $9,300 plus HST, conditional upon a signed, long-term lease agreement with the property owners, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

7.2 Letter to NSFM – Electrical Transmission Infrastructure, Southwest NS
Following recent (and ongoing) discussions between municipal CAOs in Southwest Nova Scotia and NS Power, several municipal units are sending letters to NSFM asking them to recognize the inadequacy of the electrical transmission infrastructure serving this end of the province as an advocacy priority and refer this matter to the Infrastructure Advisory Committee, or such other standing or ad hoc committee as the Board considers appropriate. The CAO is requesting the Municipality of Clare lend its voice to this collective effort. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the NSFM requesting it establish the need for improved electrical transmission infrastructure in Southwest Nova Scotia as an advocacy priority.   
MOTION CARRIED

7.3 Crosswalk – Peter Dugas Road
Following a number of inquiries from the public as to the possibility of establishing a crosswalk at the intersection of Peter Dugas Road and Highway 1, Council is recommending a letter be sent to NS Public Works asking them to formally launch the review process, including consultation with the District Traffic Supervisor, and conduct the needed evaluation. To this end, the following motion to recommend was made: 

PROPOSED BY Councillor Steven Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend sending a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works requesting that a review be conducted as to the possibility of establishing a crosswalk at the intersection of the Peter Dugas Road and Highway 1.
MOTION CARRIED

7.4 Community Well – Salmon River Fire Department
In collaboration with the Salmon River Fire Department, and following consultation with the NS Department of Environment, the Municipality is proposing the establishment of a community well at the Salmon River Firehall. The process for establishing such a well for public drinking water is highly regulated and requires ongoing testing and monitoring. In order to initiate this process, the CAO is proposing to retain the services of Fracflow Consultants Inc. for the required preliminary testing at the proposed site. The expected cost for this testing is believed to be between $5,000 and $10,000. A more detailed quote is being prepared but had not been received in time for this meeting. That said, and prior to making any formal commitments towards this project, the CAO is seeking confirmation from Council that it still wishes to proceed with this project, with the understanding that a formal motion will be requested once the aforementioned quote has been received. Council agreed and instructed the CAO to pursue this project effort.

7.5 Landscaping – Clare Health Centre
During the Clare Health Centre expansion, a temporary service road and lay down area for materials was constructed in the field next to the Centre. With the expansion now complete, the service road was no longer required and has since been removed. In order to initiate lawn growth, staff has looked at two options: seeding and hydroseeding. Seeding is believed to cost between $1,500 - $2,000 for the seeds alone and is a much more labour-intensive method (i.e. spreading the seeds, watering, etc.). Hydroseeding is the more expensive of the two options, quoted at $7,800 plus HST. Although more expensive, hydroseeding is expected to yield better results and is the preferred option of both the CAO and staff. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend accepting the quote from K. Anthony’s Landscaping and Snow Removal Ltd. in the amount of $7,800 plus HST, for hydroseeding at the Clare Health Centre and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
None.

9) Closed Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
9.1 Contract Negotiations
9.2 Personnel Matters

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

9) Date and Time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on October 7, 2026, at 7:00 pm.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm.

Submitted by
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant