Municipality of the District of Clare

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm

PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet; Councillors, Hector Thibault, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, Eric Pothier, Yvon LeBlanc and Danny Hill
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Receptionist/Administrative Assistant, Ashley Hanks, and Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff
Presenters: Paul Comeau and Gloria Banks, Grant Thornton
Public: Laura Redman

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

2) (a) Approval of the Agenda
The Warden asked that the following items be added to the Agenda.
8.5 Letter from Resident - Andrea Burke
11.5 Change of wording – Motion to Recommend the Appointment of a Clare Community Representative to the WREN Board of Directors
12.1 Eco parc

MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted revisions.
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 2017/2018 Audited Financial Statements – Paul Comeau, Grant Thornton
Paul Comeau of Grant Thornton presented the 2017/2018 Audited Financial Statement (See attached).

4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
4.1 July 18, 2018 - Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the minutes of July 18, 2018 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

4.2 August 8, 2018 - Special Meeting of Council
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the minutes of August 8, 2018 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
 

4.3 September 5, 2018 - Council-In-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the minutes of September 5, 2018 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
5.1 Letter of Support for Farm Residence in Clare

PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Canadian Association for Community Living (Clare Branch) in support of their efforts to establish a therapeutic farm and residence in Church Point, NS.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 NSFM – Resolution Meeting
The Council of the Municipality of Clare was asked by the NSFM to identify their priorities for the coming year. Rural Internet and EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) are two priorities that have already been identified by Council and submitted to the NSFM. Councillor Brian LeBlanc requested Immigration be added as another priority for the Municipality of Clare. Council agreed and ask the CAO to reiterate its priorities – Rural Internet, EPR, Immigration - to the NSFM.

5.3 Culvert Repair – Rails to Trails Association
During the meeting of September 5, 2018, it was recommended that Council award a grant in the amount of $4,000 to l’Association sentier de Clare Rails to Trails Association (ASCRT) to lower a culvert adjacent to the Norwood Road, believed to be the root cause of flooding on Larry Dawson’s property. Since this meeting, the CAO has spoken with Spec Resources. Spec Resources previously installed the culvert under the rail bed for ASCRT and at the CAO’s request, inspected the depth of the pipe. Following their inspection, it was determined that the pipe was in fact lower than the NSTIR culvert crossing the Norwood Road and in their opinion, not the cause of the flooding. In light of these findings, Warden Ronnie LeBlanc will meet with NSTIR, Spec Resources, Gordon Wilson, and Nova Scotia Natural Resources to further discuss the situation. In the meantime, Council passed the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc to postpone the motion to recommend from September 5, 2018 granting $4,000 to l’Association sentier de Clare Rails to Trails Association and defer this issue to November.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc

The Warden provided a summary of the meetings and events the he attended since the last Council meeting.

July 28 – Attended the unveiling of an interpretive panel at the Odyssey monument at Université Sainte-Anne.

July 28 - Attended the opening ceremony of the Festival acadien de Clare at Université Sainte-Anne.

July 30 – Welcomed a delegation (SISO) from China to the municipal office. The visit was organized by David Wang and Peter McClelland of the China Business Bureau of Nova Scotia.

August 1 - Delivered a speech at the opening of the community collection expo at
St. Mary's Church, as part of the Clare 250 celebrations.

August 7 - Attended a meeting with Karma Chickoski, Physician Recruitment Consultant (Western Zone) and members of the Municipality’s Doctor Recruitment Committee to discuss the Provincial Recruitment Strategy.

August 14 - Attended a meeting in Yarmouth organized by Develop Nova Scotia to discuss the Province’s Rural Internet Strategy.

August 15 – Attended the flag raising at the Clare Veterans Center.

August 16 - Welcomed a delegation from New Brunswick (Voyage Positif) who arrived in Clare to celebrate Clare’s 250th anniversary.

September 4 - Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors at Université Sainte-Anne.

September 6 - Delivered a speech at the Senior Fun Days Banquet at the Clare Veterans Center.

September 8 - Attended the public session of the Electoral Boundaries Commission in Argyle.

September 8 – Participated in the public session of the Electoral Boundaries Commission at the Clare Veterans Centre.

September 12 - Attended a meeting with Municipal Affairs, Communities Culture and Heritage, and the Office of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie to initiate discussions around recommendations included in the Commission's report on effective representation of Acadian and African Nova Scotian voters which are specific to the Municipality of Clare.

September 14 - Attended the official opening of Université Sainte-Anne’s Sports Center, now known as the Marcel R. Comeau Sports Center.

September 15 - Attended the meeting of the Board of Governors of Université Sainte-Anne.

7) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Carl Deveau provided a summary of the meetings and events that he attended since the last meeting.

July 28 – Delivered words of welcome on behalf of Council to the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics, on their way to Antigonish for the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.

September 10 – Attended the Waste Check Committee Meeting.

September 17 – Attended the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association Committee Meeting.

 

Deputy Warden Nil Doucet presented a certificate celebrating the 50th anniversary of Normand and Irene Boudreau.

 

Councillor Eric Pothier presented a certificate celebrating the 100th birthday of Rosaline Marie Saulnier.

8) Correspondence
8.1 Letter - Digby Choral Federation, Linda Demone, Chair of Fundraising
The CAO read a letter from Linda Demone, Chair of Fundraising for the Digby Choral Federation. (See attached)

8.2 Letter - Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, Honorable Lloyd Hines, Minister
The CAO read a letter from the Honorable Lloyd Hines, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (See attached)

8.3 Letter - Municipality of Barrington, Eddie Nickerson, Warden
The CAO read a letter from Eddie Nickerson, Warden of the Municipality of Barrington. (See attached)

There will be a meeting at the Rodd Grand Hotel in Yarmouth on September 27, 2018 to discuss the issues addressed in the letter. Councillors are invited to attend this meeting.

8.4 Letter - Société Nationale de L’Acadie, Louise Imbeault, President
The CAO read a letter from Louise Imbeault President of the Société Nationale de L’Acadie. (See attached)

8.5 Letter – Clare Resident in District 6, Andrea Burke
The CAO read a letter from Andrea Burke, a Clare Resident in District 6.

M. le Préfet et conseillers,

Je vous écris afin de partager mes inquiétudes à l'égard de la situation d'accès à l'eau potable et non-potable dans la municipalité de Clare.

Nous vivons, présentement et depuis le mois de juin, une saison estivale remarquablement sec du à des températures au-delà de la normale et un montant réduit de précipitation. En fait, pendant les mois de juillet et d'août, approximativement 32.4 mm (Yarmouth) de pluie est tombée, qui est 139.6 mm sous la moyenne. En plus, la température était significativement supérieure à la moyenne - 21 Celsius (moyenne) comparée à 27,3 Celsius.

Pendant les derniers trois ans, nous pouvons observer et nous vivons les effets des changements climatiques y inclut l'accès à l'eau potable. Au niveau personnel, je fais des efforts afin de gérer notre utilisation d'eau d'une manière efficace, mais nous nous trouvons dans une situation où il faut aller trouver des solutions ailleurs - par exemple, pour laver des vêtements, pour cuisiner et pour se laver. Ce qui m'inquiète est qu'il me paraît qu'il n'existe aucun plan au niveau municipal afin d'appuyer les citoyens dans ses moments de sécheresse. Ai-je raison? Ou, y'a-t-il un plan en place pour appuyer les citoyens de la municipalité de Clare? Si oui, quel est ce plan et comment ces informations sont-elles communiquées aux citoyens? Sinon, je suggère qu'un tel plan soit conçu en collaboration avec le bureau d'EMO.

Je vous encourage de réfléchir à ce problématique. Je vous remercie du temps et de la réflexion que vous y accorderiez.

Cordialement,

Andrea Burke-Saulnier
Citoyen - District 6

9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of August/September 2018. (See attached)

10) Committee Reports
10.1 Building Permits – Councillor, Danny Hill
Councillor, Danny Hill read the building permits report for the month of August.

August 2018
Year       Permits    Construction Value
2017          25           $ 1,434,459
2018          41           $ 1,000,567

10.2 Police Advisory Board – Councillor Nil Doucet
Deputy Warden Nil Doucet provided an update from the Police Advisory Board Meeting on September 10, 2018.From the period of April 1, 2018 to September 1, 2018, there have been:

• 147 Speeding violations
• 63 Other moving traffic violations
• 25 Seatbelt violations
• 79 Other non-moving violations
• 3 Off-road vehicle act
• 2 Criminal Code, Sexual offences
• 13 Harassment and uttering threats
  
• 8 Assaults
• 1 Theft, mischief, fraud (not correct but the actual number is low)
• 7 Impaired driving
• 434 Common Police activities / Check stops
• 41 Mental Health Act
• 9 Suspicious persons / Vehicles
• 21 False alarms
  
• 27 911 Acts

10.3 Waste Check – Councillor Carl Deveau
Councillor Carl Deveau provided an overview of the last Waste Check meeting. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) was a main topic of discussion at this meeting and Councillor Deveau asked for the Councillors that are participating at the NSFM meeting in November to keep this in mind during their deliberations.

Councillor Yvon LeBlanc advised Council that Waste Check is now able to recycle bicycle tires. These should be in bundles of 25 and can be placed curbside.

11) New Business
11.1 Motion to transfer $600,000 from the Operating Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that $600,000 of the annual surplus for the 2017-2018 fiscal year be transferred from the Operating Fund to the Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

11.2 Motion to transfer $1,409,555 from the Operating Fund to the Operating Reserve
PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare transfer $1,409,555 from the Operating Fund to the Operating Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

11.3 Motion to transfer $550,000 from the Operating Reserve to the Capital Fund
PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Municipality of the District of Clare transfer $550,000 from the Operating Reserve to the Capital Fund.
MOTION CARRIED

11.4 Motion to approve the 2017/2018 Audited Financial Statement
PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the 2017/2018 Audited Financial Statements for the Municipality of the District of Clare, as prepared by Grant Thornton.
MOTION CARRIED

11.5 Motion to recommend the appointment of a Clare Community Representative for the WREN Board of Directors
PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend the appointment of Charles Surette as the Clare community representative for the WREN Board of Directors.
MOTION CARRIED

11.6 Motion to award tender - Exterior Painting at Municipal Building
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for the exterior painting at the Municipal Building located at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, to Shep-Com Construction Ltd. in the amount of $4,500 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

11.7 Motion to award tender - Exterior Stage at Rendez-vous de la Baie
PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for the relocation of the outdoor stage at the Rendez-vous de la Baie to Louco Contracting Inc in the amount of $14,987 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Clare 250th project budget.
MOTION CARRIED

11.8 Motion to award tender - Roofing of Wastewater Treatment Plant in Belliveau Cove
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for the roofing of the wastewater treatment plant in Belliveau Cove to Shep-Com Construction Ltd. in the amount of $6,340 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

11.9 Project concept - CDÉNÉ
The CDÉNÉ has asked Council to put forward three socio-economic challenges currently facing the Municipality of Clare as a part of an entrepreneurial competition for students at University Sainte-Anne. Council agreed to forward their suggestions to the CAO who in turn will consolidate the responses and present these to Council at the October 3, 2018 Committee of the Whole meeting. Once approved by Council, they will be forwarded to the CDÉNÉ.

12) 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:
12.1 Ecoparc

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc 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 October 17, 2018 at 7:00 pm.

14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 pm.

Submitted by:

Ashley Hanks,
Receptionist/Administrative Assistant