Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, February 18 , 2015
PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc; Deputy Warden Brian Comeau; Councillors: Russell Comeau, Lester Doucet, Nil Doucet, Danny Hill, Hector Thibault and Robert Thibault.
Staff: Deputy Clerk Jeannette Doucet.
ABSENT: Chief Administrative Officer Connie Saulnier.
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1) CALL TO ORDER
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) (a) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The Agenda was reviewed.
Requested by Warden Ronnie LeBlanc that "Organisational Review" be added to the Agenda under "In Camera Session" (12.4).
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the proposed Agenda be approved with the above noted additions.
MOTION CARRIED
(b) CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc asked for any declarations of conflict of interest from
the floor. None declared.
3) PRESENTATIONS
3.1 Cape St-Mary's Lighthouse Project – Larry Peach (7:00 pm)
At the February 4 (2015) Council-In-Committee meeting, Tourism Director Larry Peach had given a presentation to Council regarding the Cape St Mary's Lighthouse Project. Council had asked Mr. Peach to present the project again at the televised Council meeting to raise public awareness.
Mr. Peach presented the business plan of the Cape St Mary's Lighthouse Project and the proposed site plan (attached). He explained the anticipated use for the lighthouse, the operations and maintenance, marketing strategies, as well as financial aspects of the project. Mr. Peach indicated that there is a program through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans with available Capital Funds.
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc thanked Mr. Peach for his presentation. Council discussed and move to the following Motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Robert Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the Municipality of Clare approve the Business Plan Submission for acquiring the Cape St Mary's Lighthouse (dated January 30, 2015), as presented to Council on February 18, 2015, and it be submitted to the Department of Fisheries and Ocean as an application requesting a financial contribution in the amount of $90,542.90 under the Federal 'Invest to Divest' Program for the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year.
4) ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS
4.1 January 21, 2015 Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Minutes of January 21, 2015 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
4.2 February 4, 2015 Council-In-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Lester Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Russell Comeau that the Minutes of February 4, 2015 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
5) BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS
5.1 "Community Friends with Seniors of Clare" (RANE) : Report and Action Plan
At the February 4 (2015) Council-In-Committee Meeting, Council had been provided with the Age-Friendly Community Project - Clare Region - Report and Action Plan from the provincial seniors group, Regroupement des aînés (RANE).
Warden LeBlanc explained the action plan indicating that the RANE is asking that the Municipality support their Action Plan, that the project "Communauté amie des aînés" (Community Friends with Seniors) be adopted as a collective project. There is no financial commitment indicated in the Action Plan. Council discussed and proceeded to the following Motion:
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare receive the Action Plan (dated February 2015) submitted by the provincial seniors group, Regroupement des aînés de la Nouvelle-Écosse, "Communauté amie des aînés" (Community Friends with Seniors).
6) WARDEN’S REPORT
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc listed the meetings and events he attended since the last Council meeting:
- radio interview on CIFA with Argyle's Warden;
- UNSM's Financial Indicator Workshop;
- presentation of RANE's Action Plan;
- Université Sainte-Anne's Board of Governors' meeting.
7) OFFICIAL STATEMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
Councillor Hector Thibault wished to congratulate Miss Trysten Deveau of Church Point who recently won 2 gold medals at the National Karate Championship in British Columbia, and requested that a congratulatory letter be sent to Miss Deveau.
8) CORRESPONDENCE
None.
9) C.A.O. Report - Chief Administrative Officer Connie Saulnier
None. (CAO absent).
10) COMMITTEE REPORTS
10.1 Building Permits Report (2-Year Comparison) – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill presented the building permits reports for the previous months (December and January), as submitted by the Building Department.
December
Year Permits Value of Construction
2013 7 $252,900.00
2014 15 $369,108.00
January
Year Permits Value of Construction
2014 21 $677,029.00
2015 8 $862,920.00
10.2 Clare Economic Development Committee (CEDC) – Warden LeBlanc
Council was informed that a meeting was held on February 12 (2015) with Community Friends with Seniors (RANE) who presented their Action Plan.
Also, the CDÉNÉ is looking for investors in the Clare area with a deadline of February 28 (2015). Alain Belliveau will be interviewed on Radio CIFA on February 19 to explain the details of this program.
10.3 Communication Committee – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
None to provide.
10.4 Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) – Councillor Danny Hill
None to provide.
10.5 Recreation Committee – Councillor Nil Doucet
Minutes of the Recreation Committee January 22 (2015) meeting were provided to Council. Councillor Nil Doucet indicated that Jocelyne Comeau was named volunteer of the year for 2015. She was nominated by the Baie Sainte-Marie Scouts. She will be honoured, as well as all volunteers of Clare, at the annual banquet on April 16 (2015) in Saulnierville.
10.6 Clare Municipal Tourism Committee – Councillor Robert Thibault
Councillor Robert Thibault indicated that the Festival acadien de Clare will not be distributing their usual annual booklet/flyer this year, however the Tourism Department is preparing a brochure that will be almost all paid by local advertisers.
10.7 Villa acadienne Board of Directors – Deputy Warden Brian Comeau
None to provide.
10.8 Waste Check – Councillor Robert Thibault
Council was informed that Waste Check will be asking municipalities to add on their website a link for 'apps' relating to garbage issues.
11) NEW BUSINESS
11.1 Second Reading and Adoption of By-Law #35, By-Law Respecting Third Party Credit Card Service – MOTION
There were no objections presented at the Hearing of Objections (at 6 pm, February 18, 2015) regarding By-Law #35, a By-Law respecting Third Party Credit Card Service.
The Municipality is using Paymentus as a third party credit card service which enables taxpayers to use credit cards to make their payments; Mastercard is currently the only company available through this service because Visa does not permit this service without a By-Law in place regarding third party credit card services.
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Russell Comeau that the Municipality of the District of Clare read By-Law No.35, a By-Law respecting Third Party Credit Card Service, and that the By-Law be read for the Second and Final time, thereby enacting the By-Law.
MOTION CARRIED
The title of By-Law No. 35 was read as such, By-Law Number.35, By-Law Respecting Third Party Credit Card Service.
11.2 Second Reading and Adoption of By-Law Amendment #12-2014, By-Law Respecting Dogs
Given the fact that there were objections presented at the Hearing of Objections (at 6 pm, February 18, 2015), Council agreed that the By-Law Committee review the information and objections presented by the public and make the necessary modifications to the By-Law Amendment No. 12-2014, a By-Law Respecting Dogs.
MOVED BY Councillor Lester Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Municipality of Clare not proceed with the Second and Final Reading of the By-Law Amendment No. 12-2014 regarding dogs; that the By-Law Committee review the information and objections presented by the public, and make any necessary modifications before Council can proceed with the next steps of the adoption process.
MOTION CARRIED
11.3 Transfer of Funds to Capital Reserve – MOTION
MOVED BY Councillor Robert Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare transfer the amount of Eight Hundred thousand Dollars ($800,000.00) from the Capital Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund.
MOTION CARRIED
12) CLOSED SESSION
7:50 pm
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that Council proceed to an In Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topic discussed:
12.1 Volunteer
12.2 Sidewalk Contract
12.3 Retirement
12.4 Organisational Review
MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Russell Comeau that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
13) DATE AND TIME OF NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The next Council meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 7 pm.
14) ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned a motion by Councillor Nil Doucet.
Submitted by
Jeannette Doucet, Deputy Clerk
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