Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS
PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc; Deputy Warden Eric Pothier; Councillors, Nil Doucet, Danny Hill, Philippe Gaudet, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Anique Dugas
Presenters:
ABSENT:
1) Call to Order
Warden Yvon LeBlanc called the Council meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) Adoption of the Agenda
The CAO asked that the following revisions be made to the agenda:
- Add item 9.6 under Correspondence - Jules Chiasson, Executive Director of the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FANE).
- Remove item 11.2 from Committee Reports
- Add item 13.2 in Closed Session - Contract Negotiations
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted revisions.
MOTION CARRIED
3) Declaration of conflict of interest
None declared.
4) Presentations
None.
5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 May 17, 2023 – Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the minutes of the May 17, 2023, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
5.2 June 7, 2023 – Council in Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the minutes of the June 7, 2023, Council in Committee Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
6.1 Joint Council Meeting – Municipalities of Clare and Argyle
The CAO’s of Clare and Argyle attended a funders’ meeting with the staff of the CMA 2024. Here, CMA staff presented a detailed overview of their plans and preparations to date for the CMA 2024. Canadian Heritage, the principal funder for the CMA 2024, saw value in this gathering and will be setting up similar meetings with all parties involved on a bi-monthly basis.
Based on this information, both CAO’s agree a joint meeting is no longer required at this time and are recommending the proposed joint Council meeting be deferred until the Fall of 2023. Council agreed.
7) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Yvon LeBlanc
May 24 – Met with grade 2 students at École Joseph-Dugas to explain the role of municipal council.
May 30 – Attended a meeting of the Villa acadienne.
June 2 – Attended a meeting of the Audit Committee of the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ).
June 6 – Attended a meeting of the CDÉNÉ to discuss the organization’s new strategic plan.
June 7 – Attended a meeting of the CDÉNÉ Board of Directors.
June 9 – Attended the raising of the pride flag at the municipal office.
June 14 – Attended a day of celebration at ESDC for the CSAP school community. Students (and their families) and staff from École Joseph-Dugas, École Stella-Maris, and ESDC were in attendance.
June 16 – Attended a Bonded Stock concert on the promenade in Digby, in celebration of the band's 50th anniversary and in recognition of the many achievements of their lead singer, Dave Coggins.
8) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Brian Comeau also attended the Bonded Stock concert on July 16 and wanted to congratulate the band and Dave Coggins on this remarkable milestone.
MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Municipality of the District of Clare present Dave Coggins and Bonded Shock with congratulatory certificates in recognition of the band’s 50 years in the music industry.
MOTION CARRIED
9) Correspondence
9.1 Wayne Gaudet, President, Transport de Clare
The CAO read a letter from Wayne Gaudet, President of the Transport de Clare. (
See attached)
9.2 The Honourable Kim Masland, Minister of Public Works
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Kim Masland, Minister of Public Works. (See attached)
9.3 Debbie Height, Secretary, Digby & Area Health Service Charitable Foundation
The CAO read a letter from Debbie Height, Secretary for the Digby & Area Health Service Charitable Foundation. (See attached)
9.4 Yvon Comeau et al.
The CAO read a letter from Yvon Comeau et al. (See attached)
9.5 Daniel LeBlanc, Directeur général, Nation Prospère
The CAO read a letter from Daniel LeBlanc, Directeur général, Nation Prospère. (See attached)
9.6 Jules Chiasson, Executive Director of the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FANE).
The CAO read a letter from Executive Director of the FANE. (See attached)
10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of June. (See attached)
11) Committee Reports
11.1 Building Permits Report – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permits report for the month of May.
May 2023
|
Year |
Permits |
Construction Value |
Year to Date |
|
2022 |
24 |
$ 1,972,580 |
$ 6,385,220 |
|
2023 |
24 |
$ 1,485,280 |
$ 11,352,290 |
11.2 Police Advisory Board – Councillor Brian Comeau
The Police Advisory Board met on April 27, 2023. The following items were discussed:
- Regarding the murder in Concession, this remains an active investigation led by the RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit. No charges have been laid to date.
- Bill 273 authorizing the use of ATV’s on designated public roads. The Municipality does not own any public roads therefore the authorization process under Bill 273 remains in question. The CAO will follow-up with the Area Manager for the Department of Public Works for clarification.
- A letter was received questioning the need for RCMP escorts for ambulances. Sergeant LeBlanc explained this is done in cases where the individual(s) may pose a danger to ambulance staff.
- Statistics from January 2023 to April 2023:
- Assaults – 17
- Assaults with a weapon – 3
- Break and enter (Business) – 2
- Break and enter (Residence) – 4
- Check stops – 24
- Crime prevention assist EHS – 19
- Mental Health Act – 20
- Traffic collisions (non-fatal injury) – 4
- Traffic collisions (reportable) – 12
- Wellbeing checks - 14
12) New Business
12.1 Motion to Amend 2022 Boundary Review Application
The Municipality’s Boundary Review was held on May 18, 2023. Roland Deveau from the UARB presided. No members of the public were in attendance and the UARB confirmed they received no letters of comment or requests to speak.
In terms of the review itself, Mr. Deveau was satisfied with the existing number of Councillors.
As for the proposed boundary changes, Mr. Deveau had some questions which C+D Community Design and the CAO were able to answer. Being from the area, the proposed changes to districts 6,7, and 8 struck him as odd. This notwithstanding, he found no fault with the Municipality’s proposal and was prepared to accept it as presented. However, before doing so, he did offer an alternative scenario. Because the existing boundaries seem to work well and only one district (District 4) is slightly outside the +/- 10% parity, Mr. Deveau offered Council the opportunity to simply maintain the current boundaries (i.e., status quo).
Should Council opt to keep the status quo, Mr. Deveau confirmed that no additional public consultations would be required.
Administratively, this is certainly very appealing. Furthermore, with the upcoming election in 2024, it avoids possible voter confusion and allows the Municipality to maintain existing polling stations, districts, maps, etc.
On May 24, 2023, an official letter was received from the UARB reiterating Mr. Deveau’s earlier offer to accept the scenario proposed by C+D Community Design or keep the existing boundaries. As per the letter, the CAO has been asked to discuss this offer with Council at an upcoming Council meeting (so it is documented in the minutes) and respond in writing to the UARB to advise them of Council’s decision.
Council discussed both scenarios and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare amend its 2022 municipal boundary application to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) to maintain the existing polling district boundaries.
MOTION CARRIED
12.2 Motion to Approve Municipal Flagpole Request – Clare Pride
Clare Pride has submitted a request to fly the Pride Flag on the Municipality’s community flagpole from June 1 to June 30, 2023. The request is compliant with the Municipality’s Flag Flying Policy. Council made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the request submitted by Clare Pride to fly the pride flag on the Municipality's community flagpole from June 8, 2023, to June 30, 2023, inclusively.
MOTION CARRIED
12.3 Motion to Send a Letter to the Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables
The bottom stairs at the Smugglers Cove Provincial Park were lost over the winter due to storms. The park is popular with tourists and residents alike, many of whom have reached out to municipal staff and Council expressing their concerns about the lack of access to the shore. The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) has since communicated in writing to the Municipality that they will not be replacing these stairs. (See attached) Council considers this response unacceptable given the impact on the Municipality’s tourism and recreational product offerings, as well as the public safety concerns this creates (as some residents are now using a very precarious path down the cliffs to access the shore). As such, Council made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, outlining its concerns with the department’s decision to not replace the stairs at Smugglers Cove Provincial Park.
MOTION CARRIED
12.4 Motion to Approve Funding Contribution – Municipal Innovation Program Application
To comply with the new, mandatory provincial planning requirements, the CAO is proposing a joint municipal planning effort with the Municipality of the District of Shelburne. Similar planning exercises carried out elsewhere in the Province have cost in the range of $250,000. In order to help offset these costs, the Municipalities of Clare and Shelburne have submitted a joint application to the NS Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing (DMAH), under its Municipal Innovation Program (MIP), for 75% of eligible project costs up to a maximum of $175,000. The remaining 25% or $75,000 will be shared equally between the two participating municipal units. Whereas neither municipal unit has a municipal planner on staff, the proposed approach is believed to be the most efficient and cost effective to achieve compliance. The Municipality of Clare’s contribution ($37,500) has already been budgeted as part of its previously approved 2023-2024 operating budget. This notwithstanding, a formal motion from Council specifically approving these funds as part of the MIP application, is required by DMAH. Council agreed with the approach put forward by the CAO and made the following motion to recommend:
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare endorse the joint municipal planning effort with the Municipality of the District of Shelburne and contribute 12.5%, up to a maximum of $37,500 plus applicable HST, as part of the joint funding application to the Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing, under its Municipal Innovation Program, for the completion of an intermunicipal planning strategy.
MOTION CARRIED
12.5 Motion to Send a Letter to Mr. Jules Chiasson, Executive Director, Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FANE)
La Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FANE) has named Jules Chiasson as its new Executive Director. The CAO is recommending the Municipality send a letter to Mr. Chiasson congratulating him on his new position. Council agreed and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to Mr. Jules Chiasson congratulating him on having been recently appointed as the new Executive Director of the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FANE).
MOTION CARRIED
12.6 Motion to Appoint a Representative – Board of Governors, Université Sainte-Anne
Every year, Université Sainte-Anne asks Council to appoint a representative to its Board of Directors for a 1-year term, from September to August. It is Council’s practice to appoint the Warden to this Board. As such, Council made the following motion:
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Warden Yvon LeBlanc as Council’s representative on the Board of Governors for Université Sainte-Anne for a 12-month period beginning September 1, 2023.
MOTION CARRIED
12.7 Letter of Support – Fanfare régionale de Clare
The CAO was approached by la Fanfare régionale de Clare for a letter in support of their funding application to the Office of Acadian Affaires and Francophonie. The project in question centres on the development of sheet music for traditional Acadian songs, as a means of preserving these songs for future generations and increasing their use at various events. Council made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Fanfare régionale de Clare in support of their funding application to the Office of Acadian Affaires and Francophonie.
MOTION CARRIED
12.8 Motion to Approve Funding – Havelock Fire Department
The Havelock Fire Department is planning for a new fire hall as theirs is too small and requires significant renovations. The Department has been gifted a piece of land for the new hall and is now exploring possible designs. Both Councillor Hill and the CAO have been in discussion with the Department regarding this project. To date, two firms have been approached regarding the preparation of a conceptual design for the new hall. In an effort to aid the group and maintain the momentum towards this project, the CAO is recommending Council approve up to $15,000 for the preparation of conceptual plans and an opinion of probable cost for a new fire hall (with community centre) for the Havelock Fire Department. Council agreed and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve up to $15,000 for the preparation of conceptual plans and an opinion of probable cost for a new fire hall (with community centre) for the Havelock Fire Department.
MOTION CARRIED
12.9 Motion to Award Tender – Hectanooga Fire Hall
The tender for the renovations to the new Hectanooga Fire Hall closed June 20, 2023. A total of 4 bids were received. Following a review of the bids, it is the recommendation of both the CAO and staff that the tender be awarded to Shep-Com Construction Ltd. in the amount of $203,222 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the bid from Shep-Com Construction Ltd. for the new Hectanooga fire hall, in the amount of $203,222 plus HST, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Canada Community-Building Fund Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED
12.10 Request for New Fire Hole – Little Brook Fire Department
Following the loss of its existing fire hole in Church Point, the Little Brook Fire Department (LBFD) has been looking at possible sites in Church Point for a new fire hole. Access to water (in the event of a fire) in Church Point is important given the presence of several large buildings in the vicinity –
US-A, Église Sainte-Marie, École Joseph Dugas, etc. That said, a site has been identified on land belonging to the Church Point Club. The LBFD has the Club’s permission to proceed with the construction and a formal agreement between the two groups is being drafted. Whereas this item is critical to fire protection in the area, the CAO is proposing the necessary funds for the construction of this new fire hole be provided by the Municipality as an advance to the LBFD, to be repaid over 3 years, as part of their annual capital funding allocation. Council agreed and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute $27,000 plus HST to the Little Brook Fire Department for the construction of a new fire hole in Church Point.
MOTION CARRIED
12.11 Motion to Award Tender – Wentworth Park – Parking Lot and Trail Improvements
The tender for the Parking Lot and Trail Improvements at Wentworth Lake Park generated two bids. Unfortunately, both bids far exceeded the available project budget. In an effort to move the project forward in a timely fashion, the CAO and staff will work with the low bidder to identify potential costs savings without sacrificing project deliverables. Once this exercise complete, the CAO will report the findings to Council.
12.12 Motion to Name a New Road – T. LeBlanc Lane
A request was made to name a new road. The road in question is near the Lac d’en bas in Concession. All property owners agree with the proposed name and the name itself is compliant with the Municipality’s Road Naming Policy. Council made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the request to name the road shared by the PIDs (Property Identification Numbers) listed below, as follows:
In English: T. LeBlanc Lane
In French: ruelle T. LeBlanc
|
30052088 |
30052005 |
MOTION CARRIED
13) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council proceed to an In-Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics Discussed:
13.1 Acquisition and Sale of Municipal Property
13.2 Contract Negotiations
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to both the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Justice to express its concern with the excessive amount of time required to process forensic evidence and to request additional resources be made available to expedite these tasks, in the interest of public safety.
MOTION CARRIED
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare amend its signing authorities as follows:
- Warden Yvon LeBlanc or Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, and
- CAO Stephane Cyr or Director of Community Development Pam Doucet
MOTION CARRIED
14) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at 7:00 pm.
15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 pm.
Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant