Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, April 19th, 2017 at 7:00 pm
PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet; Councillors, Hector Thibault, Danny Hill, Brian Comeau, Carl Deveau, Eric Pothier and Yvon LeBlanc
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Administrative Assistant to the CAO Alain Poirier
Public: Ray Dempsey, Upper Clements Park Society
ABSENT:
1) Call to Order
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2) (a) Approval of the Agenda
The CAO asked that the following item be added to the Agenda
- 12.3 Rural Internet under “Closed Session”
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted change.
MOTION CARRIED
(b) Declaration of conflict of interest
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc asked for any declarations of conflict of interest.
None declared.
3) Presentations
3.1 David Brown – Chair, Upper Clements Park Society
Mr. Ray Dempsey (replacing Mr. David Brown) from the Upper Clements Park Society presented an overview of the Park’s facilities and finances.
4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
4.1 March 15th, 2017: Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the minutes of March 15th, 2017 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
4.2 April 5th, 2017: Council-in-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the minutes of April 5th, 2017 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
No item.
6) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
The Warden provided a summary of the meetings and events he attended since the last Council meeting.
March 18th Delivered a small speech at the St. Bernard Firefighters Banquet
March 19th Delivered a speech at the Société acadienne de Clare recognition event at the Clare Golf and Country Club. The Société honored the members of the Clare Health Council
March 20th Attended an announcement from Premier Stephen McNeil at Upper Clements Park. Premier McNeil announced $300,000 to improve the facilities at the park.
March 21st Participated in a meeting with the Société Acadienne de Clare and la Fane to discuss the next step regarding the protected Acadians ridings.
March 23rd Attended an announcement from MLA Gordon Wilson at the Dibgy Health Centre. MLA Wilson announced the pending arrival of 3 doctors and a family nurse practitioner who will be starting in Digby in September.
March 29th Attended an announcement from MLA Gordon Wilson at the Municipality of Digby. MLA Wilson announced $2,250,000 towards a new Community Center for the Jordantown-Acaciaville-Conway Betterment Association.
April 5th Met with the Warden of the Municipality of Yarmouth, Mr. Leland Anthony, to discuss municipal priorities.
7) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Eric Pothier congratulated Mr. Joseph Alfred Jeddry for his distinguished career and read a copy of the certificate that was presented to him. Councillor Pothier asked that Council send a letter of congratulations to Mr. Jeddry. Council agreed with his request.
8) Correspondence
8.1 Transport de Clare – 2017-18 Funding Request
The CAO read a letter from Transport de Clare. (
See attached)
Council suggested that this letter be sent for consideration as part of the 2017-18 budgetary planning process.
8.2 Transport de Clare – Board of Directors
The CAO read a letter from Transport de Clare. (See attached)
Council believes that their participation as a Director on the Board of an organization core funded by the Municipality would place them in a conflict of interest. However, Council members can be invited to meetings and participate in an ex-officio capacity.
8.3 Request for letter – Sou’west Nova ATV Association
The CAO read a letter from the Sou’west Nova ATV Association. (See attached)
Council agreed to support the request and passed the following motion.
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, requesting a pilot project for the Town of Yarmouth in regards to ATV use.
MOTION CARRIED
8.4 Email from Odette Comeau – Internet Service
The CAO read an email from Odette Comeau. (See attached)
8.5 Email from Guy Belliveau – Over-cutting / clear-cutting of public woodlands
The CAO read an email from Guy Belliveau. (See attached)
Council is awaiting a response to Mr. Belliveau’s letter from the MLA’s office.
8.6 Email from Joseph Jacquard, l’Association des Acadiens – Métis Souriquois
The CAO read a letter from Joseph Jacquard. (See attached)
Council agreed with the request and passed the following motion.
MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare grant the Association’s request to plant a tree at the municipal building in Little Brook in honour of Earth Day.
MOTION CARRIED
9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO read his report for the month of April 2017. (See attached)
10) Committee Reports
10.1 Building Permits Report: Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permits report for the month of March.
March
Year Permits Construction Value
2016 10 $428,960
2017 16 $350,680
10.2 Public Works: Councillor Hector Thibault
The Public Works Committee met on March 18th, 2017 to perform its annual evaluation of the municipalities buildings and structures. Those facilities / structures in need of repair will be discussed further as part of the 2017-18 budgetary planning process.
10.3 Waste Check: Councillor Carl Deveau
Councillor Carl Deveau attended a recent symposium organized by WasteCheck. He added that the committee is still working on the issue of flyer distribution. Councillor Deveau also mentioned that WasteCheck is very pleased with the work of the Municipality’s new garbage contractor.
On the subject of WasteCheck’s draft by-law, Councillor Deveau indicated that it remains a work in progress.
11) New Business
11.1 Motion to contribute to the Cape St.-Mary`s Lighthouse project.
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute $83,512.31 towards the Cape St.-Mary`s Lighthouse project.
MOTION CARRIED
11.2 Motion to set the low-income property tax rebate
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Municipality of the District of Clare set the low-income property tax rebate for households earning less than $18,500 per annum at $300 for 2017-18.
MOTION CARRIED
11.3 Motion to proceed to the first reading of the Noise By-Law, Amendment No. 09-01-2017
MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Brian Comeau that the Municipality of the District of Clare read By-Law No. 9 Amendment No. 09-01-2017, a By-Law Respecting Noise and that the By-Law be read for the first time by title only.
MOTION CARRIED
11.4 Motion to write letter to the Province`s three political parties.
MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Province`s three political parties clearly stating the Municipality`s desire to see the three protected Acadian electoral districts, previously eliminated in 2012, reinstated.
MOTION CARRIED
11.5 Motion to purchase a table at the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Spring Gala
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Municipality of the District of Clare purchase a table at the Big Red Ball - Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Spring Gala, in the amount of $1,200.
MOTION CARRIED
11.6 Motion to write a letter to the CBC regarding its miniseries Canada: A Story of Us
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the CBC expressing its disappointment in the Corporation`s failure to recognize the collective early history of the Acadians and the Mi’kmaq, as part of its miniseries Canada: The Story of Us.
MOTION CARRIED
11.7 Motion to demolish the house located at 8543 Highway 1 Meteghan Centre
MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Municipality of the District of Clare demolish the house located at 8543 Highway 1 Meteghan Centre (next to the Medical Centre).
MOTION CARRIED
11.8 Motion to pay $10,000 to Scotia Recycling Ltd.
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Municipality of the District of Clare pay $10,000 (all inclusive) to Scotia Recycling Ltd. to resolve the matter relating to the damaged processing equipment.
MOTION CARRIED
11.9 UNSM Spring Workshop – St. FX Antigonish.
The CAO mentioned that there will be a UNSM Spring workshop, from May 10th until May 12th, at St. FX University in Antigonish for those Councillors who wish to attend.
11.10 Motion to award the tender for mowing of ball fields
The CAO mentioned that the tender for mowing of ball fields was opened today (April 19th, 2017) and after reviewing all applications, staff’s recommendation was to award the tender to Deveau`s Lawn Care. Council passed the following motion.
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the tendered bid in the amount of $43,500 ($37,826.09 plus $5,673.91 HST) as submitted by Deveau’s Lawn Care on April 19th, 2017 for mowing of ball fields.
MOTION CARRIED
12) In Camera Session
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council proceed to an In-Camera.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics discussed:
- 12.1 Animal Control
- 12.2 Personnel
- 12.3 Rural Internet
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
13) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on May 17th, 2017 at 7:00 pm.
14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 10:10pm.