Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, June 18 , 2014
PRESENT: council:Warden Ronnie LeBlanc; Councillors: Russell Comeau, Lester Doucet, Nil Doucet, Danny Hill, Hector Thibault and Robert Thibault;
Staff: CAO Connie Saulnier.
ABSENT: Deputy Warden Brian Comeau and Deputy Clerk Jeannette Doucet.
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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
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the proposed Agenda be approved as circulated.
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
None.
4) ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS
4.1 May 21st, 2014 Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Russell Comeau that Council Meeting minutes of May 21, 2014 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
4.2 June 4th, 2014 Council-In-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Lester Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council-In-Committee Meeting minutes of June 4, 2014 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
5) BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS
5.1 Seniors' Project "Communauté amie des aînés" - MOTION
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc read a letter received from the seniors provincial groupe "Regroupement des aînés de la NÉ" (RANE) regarding the Municipality collaborating with the project "Communauté amie des aînés". The RANE is asking the Municipality to sign the proposed Declaration of Participation. The Declaration of Participation indicates that the Municipality will actively participate in the RANE's project "Communauté amie des aînés" in Clare; it will support its implication in this project; give its full collaboration to the local action committee with the objective of putting in place policies and services as per the needs of the seniors; and the Warden will participate, and the Municipality will provide a municipal employee who will participate on the local action committee.
MOVED BY Councillor Russell Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Warden sign the Declaration of Participation which indicates that the Municipality will actively participate in the RANE's project "Communauté amie des aînés" (Community Friends of Seniors) in Clare; support its implication in this project; give its full collaboration to the local action committee with the objective of putting in place policies and services as per the needs of the seniors; and the Warden will participate, and the Municipality will provide a municipal employee who will participate on the local action committee.
MOTION CARRIED
5.2 District Boundary Review: Request for Proposals
CAO Connie Saulnier reported that no submissions had been received. Council discussed. It was suggested that Nicole Pothier be approached to see if she would be interested in conducting the Review since she has prepared similar reports in the past.
CAO Saulnier will set up a meeting with Council and Ms Pothier. It was also agreed that a public meeting should be scheduled and that the residents be asked for their input during the meeting. Council could then take a position.
5.3 Request for Belliveau Cove Farm Market
The request was referred to the Recreation Department.
5.4 List of priorities for "New Building Canada Fund"
Council reviewed the priorities for the Municipality's 5-year plan, as per the "New Building Canada Fund" program. The first priority identified was the Fire Hall in St. Bernard, and for future priorities, the construction of sidewalks was identified.
MOVED BY Councillor Lester Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the priorities for the Municipality's 5-year plan, as per the "New Building Canada Fund" program, include the Fire Hall in St. Bernard as the first priority, as well as the construction of sidewalks.
MOTION CARRIED
6) WARDEN’S REPORT
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc reported the meetings and events he attended (see attached report).
7) OFFICIAL STATEMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
Councillor Russell Comeau wished to congratulate Cora Lee Comeau who received an award of excellence in nursing. He asked that a letter of congratulations be sent to her.
8) CORRESPONDENCE
8.1 Julien & Joyce Comeau RE: Historic site; Acadian Cemetery, Pointe-à-Major
A letter was read, dated May 22, 2014 (copy enclosed), received from Julien and Joyce Comeau regarding a lack of signage to get to the Acadian Cemetery at Pointe-à-Major. Council discussed and it was indicated that the request be sent to the Tourism Department, so tourists can be properly directed to the Historic Site.
It was suggested that funds can be redirected from signage in the transportation budget to the tourism budget to cover the costs of the added signs.
9) COMMITTEE REPORTS
9.1 Building Permits Report (2-Year Comparison) – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill presented the building permits reports for the previous month as submitted by the Building Department.
Year Permits Value of Construction
2013 24 $762,792.00
2014 36 $983,895.00
9.2 Clare Economic Development Committee (CEDC) – Warden LeBlanc
Council was provided the minutes of the committee's June 5, 2014 meeting. Warden LeBlanc commented on a few topics. He mentioned that Mainland Telecom signed an agreement with the municipality. In exchange the CIFA building will received free internet services. He also spoke about the electric car charger project (details contained in minutes).
9.3 Communication Committee – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc indicated that Colette Deveau King was working on the newsletter. Warden LeBlanc asked Councillors to send any information to Ms Deveau King for inclusion in the newsletter. He commented that the Budget information will be included.
9.4 Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill reported that the PAC committee worked on the 3
By-Laws (By-Law #34 "Private Road Maintenance Charges", By-Law #33 "Subdivisions", Amendment # 29-01-2014 "Improvement and Takeover of Private Roads"), and also on the watershed project.
9.5 Recreation Committee – Councillor Nil Doucet
No report.
9.6 Clare Municipal Tourism Committee – Councillor Robert Thibault
No report.
9.7 Villa acadienne Board of Directors – Deputy Warden Brian Comeau
No report.
9.8 Waste Check – Councillor Robert Thibault
No report.
10) CAO's Report – CAO Connie Saulnier
CAO Connie Saulnier provided a report of meeting and events she attended (report attached).
11) NEW BUSINESS
11.1 Second and Final Reading, and MOTION TO ENACT "Improvement and Takeover of Private Roads" By-Law Amendment # 29-01-2014
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Municipality of the District of Clare, as authorized under Section 168 of the Municipal Government Act, read Improvement and Takeover of Private Roads Amendment Number 29-01-2014, by Title only, for the Second
and Final Reading, thereby enacting the By-Law.
MOTION CARRIED
The Title of the Amendment was read: "Improvement and Takeover of Private Roads", "Amendment Number 29-01-2014".
11.2 MOTION TO AWARD EcoParc Development Project Tender
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc spoke about the EcoParc Development Project Tender. Warden LeBlanc stated that ACOA is covering 75% of the cost of the study and the Municipality will only have to pay the remaining 25% of the project.
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Russell Comeau that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposal from Dillon Consulting Limited in the amount of $77,050.00 in response to its Request for Proposals for the Development of the Clare Ecoparc with the condition that funding from ACOA is approved for the said project.
MOTION CARRIED
11.3 MOTION TO AWARD Construction & Demolition Debris Disposal Site Tender
CAO Connie Saulnier gave a brief overview of the project. She indicated that basically the Construction and Demolition (C&D) Site will be moved from its current location at the Clare Landfill to another location at the Clare Landfill. The old C&D site will be covered with suitable materials for capping, and a road will be built to access the new site.
MOVED BY Councillor Russell Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Robert Thibault that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the tendered bid in the amount of $222,525.00 ($193,500.00 + $29,025.00 HST) as submitted by Gary Belliveau Construction & Excavation Ltd. on June 4th, 2014 for the construction and demolition (C&D) debris disposal site at the Clare Transfer Station/Landfill.
MOTION CARRIED
11.4 MOTION TO AWARD Rendez-vous de la Baie (RVB) Consultant Tender
CAO Connie Saulnier explained that a Consultant will be hired to study the long-term plan for the Rendez-vous de la Baie Café. She indicated that a grant has been received which will cover 70% of the project cost.
MOVED BY Councillor Robert Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the
tendered bid of $10,781.25 ($9,375.00 + $1,406.25 HST) as submitted by Happy Entrepreneur Consulting for consulting services to study and recommend a new long-term operating model for the Rendez-vous de la Baie Café.
MOTION CARRIED
11.5 MOTION RE: Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Capital Campaign for CT Scanner and Medication Management System
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc read a letter from the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation (dated April 4, 2014 - copy enclosed), regarding a capital campaign for the purchase of a CT Scanner and a medication management system at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital.
MOVED BY Councillor Lester Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Municipality of the District of Clare support the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Capital Campaign for the purchase of a new CT Scanner and Medication Management System by pledging an amount of $37,964.00 to be disbursed in the following manner: $ 18,982.00 in 2015-2016; and $ 18,982.00 in 2016-2017.
MOTION CARRIED
Councillor Danny Hill commented that he thought it was a good idea to support this project because over 18% of the users are from Clare.
11.6 MOTION RE: Proposal for Planning Services, Watershed Zoning Project
Councillor Danny gave a brief report on the planned project for Watershed Zoning and commented that the money for this project had been budgeted for in the 2014/2015 municipal budget.
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Russell Comeau that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the proposal as submitted by WSP Canada Inc. on May 16, 2014 for the "Watershed Zoning and Land Use Mapping for the LeBlanc and Belliveau Watersheds" in the amount of $38,237.50 ($33,250.00 plus $4,987.50 HST) as per the recommendation of the Planning Advisory Committee.
MOTION CARRIED
11.7 MOTION TO APPOINT Tourism Committee Members
A letter of interest was received from Russell Wiebe, owner of Cap View Motel and Cottages, regarding becoming a member of the Tourism Committee. Currently there are 2 positions on the committee for tourism stakeholders.
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the name of Russell Wiebe as a new member on the Tourism Committee for a term of three (3) years, from today until March 31st, 2017.
MOTION CARRIED
11.8 Letter to Minister RE. Mink Industry – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc indicated that the mink industry is currently undergoing difficulties and local mink ranchers are struggling. He suggested that a letter be sent to the Minister to encourage the Minister to work with the mink ranchers. Council agreed. Councillor Danny Hill added that the mink industry brings in $140 million dollars in revenue to the Province.
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the Municipality send a letter to the Minister of Agriculture encouraging the Minister to work with the mink ranchers since the mink industry is currently undergoing difficulties and local mink ranchers are struggling.
MOTION CARRIED
11.9 Public Meeting RE. Monument for Those Lost at Sea (June 25 at 7pm - Saulnierville Legion)
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc announced that the date for the meeting regarding a Monument for Those Lost at Sea will be held Wednesday June 25 at 7 pm at the former Legion Hall in Saulnierville.
11.10 Belliveau Motors Annual Golf Tournament
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc reported that the 20th Annual Belliveau Motors Golf Tournament will be held on August 1st. He indicated that the Municipality usually enters a team for this tournament because most of the proceeds go towards the purchase of medical equipment at the Clare Health Centre.
12) CLOSED SESSION
MOVED BY Councillor Robert Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council proceed to an In Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topic 12.1 "Animal Control" was discussed.
MOVED BY Councillor Robert Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
13) DATE AND TIME OF NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The next Council meeting was tentatively set for Wednesday July 16, 2014 (7 pm).
14) ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. following a motion by Councillor Russell Comeau.
Respectfully submitted by
Connie Saulnier – CAO
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