Municipality of the District of Clare

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 7:00 pm

PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet; Councillors, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, Yvon LeBlanc, Eric Pothier, Hector Thibault and Danny Hill
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, and Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks
Presenters: Alphonsine Saulnier, Hélène Comeau, and Sgt. Daniel Gaudet
ABSENT:

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

Warden Ronnie LeBlanc read the following statement:

“The Municipality of Clare wishes to express its condolences to the family and friends of Delphis J. Comeau. A pillar of the community, Mr. Comeau dedicated more than 30 years to the public service, notably as Clerk-Treasurer of the Municipality of Clare. We, like many, were touched by his life and grieve with the community at his loss.”

2) (a) Approval of the Agenda

MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the proposed agenda be approved as circulated.
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 L’Association des séniors en sécurité – Alphonsine Saulnier, President, Hélène Comeau, Coordinator, and Sgt. Daniel Gaudet, RCMP
Ms. Alphonsine Saulnier, thanked Council for the invitation to present and for renewing its funding commitment to the Association for another 3 years.

L’Association des séniors en sécurité was formed in partnership with the Municipality, the Province of Nova Scotia and the RCMP. This partnership is crucial to the Association’s success and is what has allowed them to complete 700 home visits in 2018 alone. Sgt. Daniel Gaudet added that this is the first area that he has worked in that offers such a program. It is an asset to the community and makes the RCMP’s job much easier in those cases were elder abuse is suspected, extreme or criminal.

Council thanked l’Association des séniors en sécurité for their presentation and their continued service to the community.

4) Adoption of Minutes
4.1 May 15, 2019 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the minutes of May 15, 2019 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

4.2 June 5, 2019 – Council-In-Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the minutes of June 5, 2019 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

4.3 June 18, 2019 – Special Session of Council

MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the minutes of June 18, 2019 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None

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.

June 3 – Attended a meeting with Emmanuel Nahimana of l’Immigration Francophone
Nouvelle-Écosse to discuss the Municipality of Clare’s nomination as one of the 14
most welcoming Francophone communities across Canada.

June 3 – Attended a meeting via telephone with the Audit Committee for the CDÉNÉ.

June 4 – Attended a meeting via telephone with the Board of Directors of the CDÉNÉ.

June 7 & 8 – Attended the AGM of the Réseau santé Nouvelle-Écosse in Dartmouth.

June 10 – Attended the Board of Directors meeting of the CDÉNÉ in Halifax.

June 11 – Attended the AGM of the CDÉNÉ in Halifax

June 13 – Attended a meeting with Develop Nova Scotia to discuss the internet project.

June 15 – Attended the official opening of the new Saint Bernard Fire Station.

June 17 – Attended a meeting in Shelburne for an update from the Compass Co-op Housing
Initiative on their projects in South West Nova Scotia.

June 18 – Attended a meeting with l’Atelier de Clare and Compass to discuss potential
housing projects.

June 18 – Attended the WREN AGM in Digby.

7) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Danny Hill would like to wish a happy birthday to Wallace Mullen of New Tusket who will be celebrating his 104th birthday on July 5, 2019. Councillor Danny Hill requested a certificate be sent to Mr. Mullen on behalf of Council.

Councillor Hector Thibault would like to congratulate Isabella Cyr for being selected to represent Nova Scotia in the finals for the 40th Jeux de l’Acadie for both the high jump and the 4 x 100m relay. Councillor Hector Thibault requested that a letter of congratulations be sent to Ms. Cyr on behalf of Council.

Councillor Carl Deveau would like to thank all the volunteers that have collected garbage from the ditches and beaches in Clare, either on their own or as part of the Municipality’s Community Clean-up Program.

8) Correspondence
8.1 Update on the Accessibility Act – Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
The CAO read a letter from the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities. (pdfSee attached)

8.2 Municipal Representation – Governing Council, Université Sainte-Anne
The CAO read a letter from the Governing Council of Université Sainte-Anne. (pdfSee attached)

MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Warden Ronnie LeBlanc as Council’s representative on the Board of Governors for Université Sainte-Anne.
MOTION CARRIED

8.3 Thank-You Letter – CMA 2024 Bid Committee
The CAO read a letter from the CMA 2024 Bid Committee. (pdfSee attached)

9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of June 2019. (pdfSee attached)

10) Committee Reports
10.1 Building Permits – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permits report for the month of May 2019.

May 2019
Year     Permits     Construction Value     Year to Date
2018    25             $ 1,040,300                 $ 3,554,600
2019    13             $ 493,800                    $ 3,107,680

11) New Business
11.1 Motion to Enact By-law No. 37 – A By-law Respecting Subdivisions, First Reading
Councillor Brian Comeau read a section of the minutes from February 6, 2019: “There is currently no subdivision by-law in the Municipality of Clare. Persons wanting to subdivide their land must necessarily follow provincial regulations. The absence of a municipal by-law and the reliance on provincial regulations has been a source of much contention of late, particularly when the land in question is on unmaintained public roads or “K” roads. To address this issue and facilitate future subdivision development, the By-law Committee, in consultation with the CAO and the Municipal Solicitor, Lynette Muise, have drafted a Subdivision By-law for Council’s review and consideration. This by-law is based on best practices contained within existing municipal subdivision by-laws throughout South West Nova Scotia and is believed to be a good fit for the Municipality of Clare.” The By-law Committee would like to recommend this by-law be put forward for first reading.

Councillor Danny Hill believes that this by-law will be good for Clare and allow for more development in Clare.

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare read By-Law No. 37, a By-Law Respecting Subdivisions and that the By-Law be read for the first time by title only.
MOTION CARRIED

Councillor Brian Comeau read the following:

BY-LAW NO. 37
A BY-LAW RESPECTING SUBDIVISIONS

11.2 Motion to Adopt 2019-2020 Capital Budget
The CAO presented the draft 2019-2020 Capital Budget to Council. This budget was reviewed and discussed at length at the Special Meeting of Council on June 18, 2019.

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the 2019-2020 Capital Budget as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

11.3 Motion to Appoint Representative – Yarmouth Hospital Foundation
Due to work-related obligations, Councillor Danny Hill is no longer able to attend the meetings of the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation and is respectfully requesting he be replaced on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Warden Ronnie LeBlanc to the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.
MOTION CARRIED

11.4 Motion to Increase Municipal Credit Card Limit
Administratively, the current limit is causing procurement issues. Finance staff often must juggle the items being purchased using these cards and/or make interim payments (as opposed to monthly) to allow their continued use as part of routine municipal operations. In order to address this issue, both the CAO and the Director of Finance are recommending the cumulative limit be increased from $10,000 to $25,000. Individual staff limits will remain unchanged.

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare increase the Municipal credit card limit to $25,000.
MOTION CARRIED

11.5 Motion to Make a Presentation to the Board of Directors of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial
In light of the growing importance of immigration to the growth and sustainability of rural communities, and the Municipality’s recent designation as one of the 14 most welcoming francophone communities across Canada, the Warden is requesting Council approval to allow him and the CAO to make a presentation to the CSAP Board of Directors, at its meeting on June 22, 2019. The presentation will focus on the CSAP’s policy (Policy 501) which governs admission criteria.

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare allow the Warden and CAO to make a presentation to the Board of Directors of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial during their meeting of June 22, 2019, regarding Policy 501 which governs admission criteria.
MOTION CARRIED

11.6 Motion to Write a Letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Regarding Needed Repairs to Highway 340
The Gran Fondo Organizing Committee is respectfully asking Council to send a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal asking them to prioritize the repair work needed for a 7-kilometre stretch of road at the intersection of Patrice Road and Highway 340, heading west on Highway 340.

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation asking them to prioritize the repair work needed for a 7-kilometre stretch of road at the intersection of Patrice Road and Highway 340, heading west on Highway 340.
MOTION CARRIED

11.7 Motion to Write a Letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Regarding Needed Repairs and Signage for Cedarwood Lake Road and Green Road
Councillor Danny Hill was approached by residents of Cedarwood Lake Road and Green Road, regarding the condition of the road as well as the lack of proper road signage. This lack of signage is particularly problematic, having previously caused problems for ambulances responding to a call. Councillor Hill is asking Council to send a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (NSTIR) asking them to improve the road condition and install proper signage

Warden LeBlanc would like to invite representatives of NSTIR to a future Council meeting to discuss priorities.

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation asking them to complete needed repairs and install proper road signage for Cedarwood Lake Road and Green Road in New Tusket.
MOTION CARRIED

11.8 Motion to Approve the Flag Flying Policy

MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the Flag Flying Policy as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

11.9 Chinese Student Delegation
The Municipality of Clare has a friendship agreement with the City of Taicang in China. Under the umbrella of this agreement, the Municipality has welcomed both dignitaries and students to the community. Later this summer, another delegation of Chinese students will be visiting the area and the Municipality has been asked to arrange round trip transportation from Truro to Clare. The cost to do so is modest and would be a gesture of friendship and goodwill given that a number of local businesses have ties to China and a large volume of lobster from the region is exported to Chinese markets.

MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the cost of transportation from Truro, Nova Scotia to Clare, as provided by the Transport de Clare, for a delegation of Chinese students visiting the Municipality.
MOTION CARRIED

11.10 Motion to Write a Letter of Support for Société Héritage Saint-Bernard
Warden LeBlanc was approached by la Société Héritage Saint-Bernard and asked for a letter of support for their application to the New Horizons for Seniors Program. By way of their application, la Société Héritage Saint-Bernard is seeking funding to hire an employee for their museum.

MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Société Héritage Saint-Bernard in support of their application to the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
MOTION CARRIED

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 Former Saint-Albert Elementary School
12.2 Dangerous and Unsightly
12.3 Rural Internet
12.4 Contract Negotiations

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

14) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on July 17, 2019 at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 10:05 pm.

Submitted by:

Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant