Municipality of the District of Clare

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Wednesday, April 18th, 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, Administrative Assistant to the CAO, Alain Poirier, Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff
Public:
ABSENT:

 

1) Call to Order
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the Council 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 Ronnie LeBlanc asked for any declarations of conflict of interest.
None declared.

3) Presentations
None


4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
4.1 March 21st, 2018: Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Minutes of April 21st, 2018 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

4.2 April 4th, 2018: Council-in-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Minutes of April 4th, 2018 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

4.3 April 9th, 2018: Special Session of Council
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Danny Hill that the Minutes of April 9th, 2018 be accepted as circulated
MOTION CARRIED

5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None

6) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
The Warden provided a summary of the meetings and events that he attended since the last Council meeting.

April 12th Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Yarmouth Harbourside Lodge.

April 14th Attended the Clare Firefighters Banquet at the Clare Veterans Centre.

April 17th Participated in a roundtable discussion at Université Sainte-Anne with representatives of ACOA and members of the private sector regarding the challenges their businesses are currently facing.

7) Official Statements from Members of Council

April 11th Deputy Warden Nil Doucet delivered remarks on behalf of Council at a funding announcement for A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd. MP Fraser and MLA Wilson announced contributions of $2.3 million and $1.5 million respectively, from the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia.

March 31st Councillor Brian Comeau mentioned that a gentlemen’s hockey team formed by Mr. Pierre Boissonneault won a hockey tournament in Moncton NB on March 31st - April 1st. Councillor Comeau asked Council to send a congratulatory letter to Mr. Boissonneault.

March 24th Councillor Carl Deveau attended the AGM for the “Association des Acadiens Métis-Souriquois”.

April 14th Councillor Carl Deveau attended the Clare Firefighters Banquet at the Clare Veterans Centre

8) Correspondence
8.1 Letter from Walk of Values – Advisor Team, Manish Rughani
The CAO read a letter from the Walk of Values – Advisor Team, Manish Rughani (pdfSee attached)

Council’s practice is to not make proclamations. The CAO will contact Mr. Rughani to advise him of this practice and thank them for their letter.

8.2 Letter from Mr. Brian Converse regarding his donation of land in Meteghan River
The CAO read a letter from Brian Converse. (pdfSee attached)

Statement of Donation:
This donation of land is made in honor of the brave men and women who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces. With a special affection to those who served honorable in Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). I am currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Army serving with the Connecticut Army National Guard. I had the distinct honor of serving with and providing support for men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and the United States Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) in 2006-2007, and in 2010.

A letter will be sent from Council to Mr. Converse thanking him for his generous contribution.

8.3 Letter from the Council of Canadians – Angela Giles
The CAO read a letter from the Council of Canadians – Angela Giles (pdfSee attached)

Although Council does share in some of these concerns, it is not a specialist in this field. As such, neighboring municipalities and the UNSM will be contacted for there opinions and to further discuss this important issue.

Following these discussions, a letter will be issued to the Minister of Environment and Climates Changes, Catherine McKenna, Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Premier Stephen McNeil outlining the Municipality`s concerns.

9) Presentation of 2018-2019 Municipal Budget and Corresponding Motions.
The CAO presented the 2018-2019 Municipal Budget to Council. (pdfSee attached)

Council passed the following motions relating to the 2018-2019 Municipal Budget:

9.1 Municipal Tax Rate: MOTION

PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the municipal tax rates for the Municipality of the District of Clare, for 2018-2019, be set as follows:

 $1.04 per $100.00 of assessment as the Residential Tax Rate (the same rate as the last four years), and;
 $2.07 per $100.00 of assessment as the Commercial Tax Rate (the same rate as the last four years).

MOTION CARRIED

9.2 Sewer Service Charges: MOTION

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the municipal sewer service charges for 2018-2019 be set as follows:

Meteghan $185.00 per Unit
Meteghan Centre $200.00 per Unit
Meteghan River $200.00 per Unit
Church Point $185.00 per Unit
Belliveau Cove $200.00 per Unit

MOTION CARRIED

9.3 Street Light Rates: MOTION

PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Street Light Rates for 2018-2019 be set as follows:

Highway 1 and Patrice Road – Church Point $ 50.27
Highway 1- Little Brook and Comeauville $ 31.61
Highway 1 – Saulnierville $ 44.97
Highway 1 – Meteghan River $ 47.48
Placide Comeau Road – Meteghan River $ 59.95
Highway 1 and Peter Dugas Road – Meteghan $ 31.16
John Thibodeau Road – Meteghan Centre $ 821.04 (1 user)
Highway 1 – Saint-Bernard and Belliveau Cove $ 17.24

MOTION CARRIED

9.4 Due Date and Interest Rate Commencement Date: MOTION

PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the due date for payment of municipal tax be June 30th, 2018 and the interest rate be
1½ % per month, as it was last year, beginning on August 1st, 2018.
MOTION CARRIED

9.5 Municipal Budget 2018-2019: MOTION

PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the 2018-2019 municipal budget for the Municipality of the District of Clare be approved as presented on Wednesday, April 18th, 2018.
MOTION CARRIED

Warden Ronnie LeBlanc congratulated the CAO and the Director of Finance for presenting a balanced budget with no increase to the municipal tax rates for a fourth consecutive year.

10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO read his report for the month of April 2018. (pdfSee attached)

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

March
Year                        Permits                                Construction Value
2017                           17                                         $ 390,680
2018                           17                                       $1,294,640

11.2 Police Advisory Board: Councillor Hector Thibault
Councillor Hector Thibault read his report for the April 9th, 2018 Police Advisory Meeting.

The Board met on April 9th with Corporal Jamie Lutz (replacing Sergeant Dan Gaudet).
According to Corporal Lutz, the 2018 Canoe Trip went very well. RCMP made several checks (14 check points) of four wheelers during the event.

The RCMP continues to make presentations in local schools, most recently on the seriousness of making calls to 911 and hanging up.

For nearly 5 years, the Board has been awaiting word from the Nova Scotia Department of Justice regarding Denise Allison’s candidacy. In an effort to draw this process to a close, the CAO, with the approval of Council, will send a letter to the Department of Justice asking them to expedite this matter.

12) New Business
12.1 Motion to approve the 2018-2019 Fire Department Capital Funding Expenditures

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the proposed 2018/2019 Fire Department Capital Funding expenditures as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

12.2 Motion to approve the 2018-2019 Fire Department Operational Funding Allocations

PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the proposed 2018/2019 Fire Department Operational Funding allocations, conditional upon review of the department’s 2017 financial statements.
MOTION CARRIED

12.3 Motion to Write a Letter to UNSM identifying Council`s Priorities for 2018

PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the UNSM identifying Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as its priority for 2018, amongst the choices provided by UNSM, and strongly underscoring that although previously identified as a priority by Council in 2017, Rural High Speed Internet nevertheless remains atop Council’s list of priorities for 2018 onward.
MOTION CARRIED

12.4 Motion to Write a Letter to Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal outlining Council`s concerns regarding Vehicular Safety on “Allée des Blacks” Road

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal outlining Council`s concerns regarding vehicular safety on “Allée des Blacks” Road and requesting the department promptly initiate a study to assess the matter at hand and address said concerns.
MOTION CARRIED

12.5 Motion to Adopt the Chief Administrative Officer’s (CAO) compensation scale
The Warden explained that this exercise was carried out so as to ensure that the CAO’s current compensation scale was in keeping with that of other CAOs in the neighboring municipalities.

Council passed the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare adopt the following compensation scale for the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), effective April 1, 2018, and that the salary of the current CAO, Mr. Stéphane Cyr, be set at Step 5 of said scale or $110,000 for fiscal 2018-2019, retroactive to April 1, 2018.

Step 1 - $86,000               Step 5 - $110,000
Step 2 - $92,000               Step 6 - $114,000
Step 3 - $98,000               Step 7 - $118,000
Step 4 - $104,000             Step 8 - $122,000

MOTION CARRIED

12.6 Motion to Amend By-Law No.8 – A By-Law respecting Solid Waste, 1st reading

The proposed by-law was originally drafted by Waste Check and later reviewed by the By-law Committee, the CAO and the Municipal Solicitor, Lynette Muise. Following certain minor revisions, the By-law Committee is recommending the proposed Solid Waste By-law for first reading. Council passed the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare read By-Law No.8 Amendment No.08-01-2018, a By-Law Respecting Solid Waste and that the By-Law be read for the first time by title only.

By-Law No.8 – Amendment No. 08-01-2018, a by-law respecting solid waste.
MOTION CARRIED

13) In Camera Session
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to an in-camera session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics discussed:
13.1 Project financing
13.2 Ecoparc

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED


14) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on May 16th, 2018 at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 pm.

 

Submitted by:

 

Alain Poirier,
Administrative Assistant of the CAO