Municipality of the District of Clare

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

PRESENTS: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc; Deputy Warden Brian Comeau; Councillors, Lester Doucet, Nil Doucet and Hector Thibault.
Staff: CAO Connie Saulnier, and administrative assistant to the CAO, Alain Poirier. Public: few members of the Société Acadienne de Clare
ABSENT: Councillors Russel Comeau and Robert Thibault

_______________________________________________________________________________________

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

2) (a) Approval of the Agenda
Councillor Nil Doucet asked that the following item be added under ''Closed Session''
- Pointe à Major road.

Councillor Danny Hill found a mistake in the agenda on the English version. The mistake is only on the English version. Two points have been duplicated.

Warden Ronnie LeBlanc asked that the points 11.8 & 11.9 are being switch.

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the 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 Note of Appreciation - Doctor d’Entremont
For personals reasons, Doctor d’Entremont could not attend the meeting.

3.2 Monument for those lost at sea-. – Elaine Thimot
Elaine Thimot presented the project regarding the monument for those lost at sea. She mentionned the hard work that has been done by the committee, including the selection of a location for the monument. She also presented a draft of what the monument will look like. She asked Council of the Municipality of Clare to get involved in the maintenance of the monument. The committee, also requested information on the Municipality’s charity number.
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc thanked ''Société Acadienne de Clare'' for their effort in this project and mentionned that the project is important for him, especially because of his work as a fisherman.

4) ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGs :
4.1 June 17, 2015 : Regular Council Meeting
The June 17, 2015 Regular Council Meeting minutes were reviewed. It was noted that there were no errors or omissions.
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the Minutes of June 17, 2015 be accepted as prepared.
MOTION CARRIED

4.2 July 8th 2015 : Committee-In-Council meeting
The July 8th, 2015 Council-In-Committee Meeting minutes were reviewed. It was noted that there were no errors or omissions.
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault, that the Minutes of July 8th, 2015 Council-In-Committee Meeting be accepted as prepared.
MOTION CARRIED

5) BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

5.1 Request from the Havelock Fire Dept.
Council discussed the request from the Havelock Fire Dept, and decided to buy 3 more Porta Potties, for 3 other groups. The four groups are, Havelock Fire Dept, Hilltown baseball field, Stella Maris School and Clare Highschool for the minor soccer.It was requested that the CAO Connie Saulnier prepare a MOU for these groups, to explain the responsibility they have regarding the porta potties, i.e. supplying toilet paper and being in charge of the maintenance/cleaning.
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the Municipality of Clare buy 4 Porta Potties for the following groups: Havelock Fire Dept, Hilltown baseball field, Stella Maris School and Clare Highschool with the condition that the groups are responsible for the maintenance/cleaning and the supplies.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc

Warden Ronnie LeBlanc listed the meetings and events he attended since the last Council meeting, including :
June 18th : Participate at the last meeting for Bay of Fundy Marine Transportation Association. The goal of this committee is the the continuation of the Digby ferry service.
June 25th : AGM for the Digby CBDC
June 26th : Municipal Office for an announcement by Greg Kerr and Gordon Wilson regarding the Meteghan Sanitary Sewer Extension.
June 29th : WREN meeting for the Liaison & Oversight committee for discussing the strategic plan.
June 30th : Meeting with the Health Minister Leo Glavine for discussing the replacement of the Villa Acadienne, with Councillors Robert Thibault, Lester Doucet and Hector Thibault.
July 1st : Speach for the Canada Day celebrations.

July 8th : Announcement at Rendez-Vous de la Baie for the ''petit bois project''. A project that is being finance by ACAO, Université Sainte-Anne, les dames patronesses de la CJA and the Municipality of Clare.
July 17th : Participate in a session at UNSM in Halifax on Innovation Housing Approach for Affordability.
July 14th : Meeting for the ''Monument de l’odyssée'' committee.
July 15th : New Digby ferry (Fundy Rose) open house.

7) Official Statements from the Members of Council

Councillor Lester Doucet asked that the Municipality prepare a certificate for Mr. Michael Maillet for having received the ''Driver of the year'' title.
Council approved

Deputy Warden Brian Comeau mentionned that Mr Melvin Boudreau recently received the ''Légion d’honneur'' of France medal for his role in the liberation of France in Normandie on the D-day, at the end of the Second World War
Deputy Warden Brian Comeau asked Council to prepare a certificate on behalf of the Municipality of Clare for this highest distinction.
Council approved.

8) Correspondence

Request from the Villa Acadienne
CAO Connie Saulnier read a request from the Villa Acadienne who will celebrate their 40th anniversary and are asking that the Municipality contribute the amount of $1,000 to help them pay for the celebrations.
A motion will be passed (See item 11.4 on the Agenda).

Request for letter of support (LIP)
CAO Connie Saulnier read a request from the CDÉNÉ. They would like to create a Local Immigration Partnership between the Municipality of Argyle, Municipality of Clare and the CDÉNÉ.
A motion will be passed (See item 11.3 on the Agenda).

Request for a letter of support (Willow Agriculture)
CAO Connie Saulnier read a request from Pario Sciences. They are asking for a letter of support from the Municipality to do some testing in the region. The test are to reduce the waste of minks the most efficient way possible, and to make some bio products, like compost or green diesel.
A motion will be passed (See item 11.2 on the Agenda).

9) Chief Administrative Officer's (CAO) Report – CAO Connie Saulnier
CAO Connie Saulnier presented her report.
See attachment.

10) Committee Reports

10.1 Building Permits Report : Councillor Danny Hill

Councillor Danny Hill presented the building permits reports for the month of June as submitted by the Building Department.

Year Permits Value of Construction
2014    24        $ 513, 101
2015    24        $ 947, 400

10.2 Clare Economic Development Committee : Warden Ronnie LeBlanc.

As per the Municipality of Clare Organizational Study Report, the Economic Development Committee will be eliminated. A motion will be passed at Item 11.1 on the Agenda.

10.3 Communication Committee : Warden Ronnie LeBlanc

As per the Municipality of Clare Organizational Study Report, the Communication Committee will be eliminated. A motion will be passed Item 11.1 on the Agenda.

10.4 Planning Advisory Committee : Councillor Danny Hill

There was no planning Advisory Committee meeting in July.

10.5 Recreation Committee : Councillor Nil Doucet

Councillor Nil Doucet read the minutes from the last recreation committee meeting, because the committee will no longer exist, a motion will be passed Item 11.1 on the Agenda.

10.6 Tourism Committee : Councillor Robert Thibault

A per the Municipality of Clare Organizational Study Report, the tourism committee will be eliminated.. A motion will be passed Item 11.1 on the Agenda.

10.7 Villa Acadienne : Deputy Warden Brian Comeau

Deputy Warden Brian Comeau read his report. See attachment.

10.8 Waste Check : Councillor Robert Thibault

No report

11) New Business

11.1 Motion to adopt new governance structure
PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Municipality of Clare eliminate the following committees for Recreation, Tourism and Economic Development and create a new governance structure as identified in the 2015 Municipality of Clare organizational study report.
MOTION CARRIED

11.2 Motion for letter of support
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of Clare write a letter of support (non-financial) for a project associated with mink waste reduction & energy crop production (Willow agriculture).
MOTION CARRIED

11.3 Motion to create partnership with the CDENE, the Municipality of Clare and the Municipality of Argyle.
PROPOSED BY Councillor Lester Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of Clare enter into a partnership (non-financial) between ''Le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse'' (CDENE), the Municipality of Clare and the Municipality of Argyle on a Local Immigration Partnership. (LIP)
MOTION CARRIED

11.4 Motion for donation to Villa Acadienne for their 40th anniversary celebrations.
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Municipality of Clare donate an amount of one thousand dollars ($1, 000) to the Villa Acadienne to assist them with their 40th anniversary celebrations.
MOTION CARRIED

11.5 Motion to approve the Western Regional Enterprise Network (WREN) Liaison & Oversight committee terms of reference.
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the Municipality of Clare approve the Terms of Reference for the Western Regional Enterprise Network (WREN) Liaison & Oversight Committee as submitted on June 3rd 2015.
MOTION CARRIED

11.6 Motion to enter into an inter-municipal agreement.
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Municipality of Clare approve the amendments, as per the attached document, to the inter-municipal agreement with the Western Regional Enterprise Network (WREN).
MOTION CARRIED

11.7 Motion to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the department of Health and Wellness
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Municipality of the District of Clare enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health and Wellness implementation of a comprehensive physical activity strategy through a program known as the Municipal Physical Activity Leadership Program (MPAL) and to extend the contract for an Active Living Coordinator for a period of five (5) years.
MOTION CARRIED

11.8 Motion regarding change from CAO to the Director of finance positions.(MOTION 1)
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of Clare accept the resignation of Connie Saulnier from the position of Chief Administrative Officer, effective January 2, 2016.
MOTION CARRIED

11.9 Motion regarding changes from CAO to the Director of finance positions. (MOTION 2)
PROPOSED BY Councillor Lester Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of Clare confirm the appointment of Connie Saulnier to the Director of Finance position effective January 3, 2016 in accordance with the job description as prepared by the consulting firm of Richard G. Ramsay Management Consultants Inc.
MOTION CARRIED

11.10 Motion regarding changes from CAO to the Director of finance positions. (MOTION 3)
PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of Clare issue a ''Request for Proposals'' to firms/individuals interested in the recruitment of a new Chief Administrative Officer.
MOTION CARRIED

11.11 Dead whale on beach
Councillor Nil Doucet mentioned that he received a call from a resident who is concerned with a dead whale on a beach in Saint-Bernard. This concern is with the possible environmental effects if the whale stays there for a long period of time. Some people are fishing clams, and some residents have their wells not far from the whale. CAO Connie Saulnier said that she would do some research to find out who is responsible for removing the whale.

12) CLOSED SESSION
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that Council proceed to an In Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topic discussed: Pointe-à-Major road

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED


13) Date and time of next Council meeting :Wednesday September 16th 2015 at 7PM

14) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet the adjournment of the meeting at 20 :45.

Submitted by

Alain Poirier,
Administrative Assistant to the CAO

*Note : There will be a Special Session of Council on August 12th, 2015
** : The next meeting that was scheduled for September 16th has been postponed until September 23rd.