Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, June 21st, 2017 at 7:00 pm
PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet; Councillors, Hector Thibault, Danny Hill, Brian Comeau, Carl Deveau, Eric Pothier and Yvon LeBlanc
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Administrative Assistant to the CAO Alain Poirier
Public: Germaine Comeau
ABSENT:
1) Call to Order
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2) (a) Approval of the Agenda
The Warden asked that the following items be added to the Agenda
- 11.9 Motion to change signing authorities under “New Business”
- 12.4 Contract under “Closed Session”
MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted changes.
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 Germaine Comeau – Coastal Zone
Mrs. Germaine Comeau presented a letter expressing her concerns regarding the rumored construction of a new lobster holding facility and the likely impacts this new construction and the lack of zoning would have on both neighboring property values and quality of life. (
See attached)
The issue was referred to the PAC.
4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
4.1 May 17th, 2017: Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the minutes of May 17th, 2017 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
4.2 June 7th, 2017: Council-in-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the minutes of June 7th, 2017 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
No item.
6) Warden’s Report – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
The Warden provided a summary of the meetings and events he attended since the last Council meeting.
May 29th Attended a presentation at the Municipality of Digby regarding the RCMP Policing Review.
May 31st Participated on a conference call of the CDÉNÉ audit committee to review the organization’s financial statements.
June 1st Participated on a conference call of the CDÉNÉ board of directors to review and approve the organization’s financial statements.
June 1st to 4th Attended the FCM Conference in Ottawa.
June 6th Attended the CDÉNÉ AGM in Halifax
June 13th Attended a Harbour Side Lodge meeting in Yarmouth
June 14th Attended the Digby/NSHA Stakeholders meeting
June 15th Met with Warden Jimmy McAlpine (Municipality of Digby), Mayor Ben Cleveland (Town of Digby), and representatives of Cape Sharp Tidal for a briefing on turbine testing in the St. Mary’s Bay.
7) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Carl Deveau congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Charles & Rose-Delima Amirault on their 50th wedding anniversary, which they will celebrate on July 8th, and asked that a certificate be prepared and sent to the couple.
Councillor Carl Deveau wished good luck to Renee Cleveland who has been selected to represent Nova Scotia in Volleyball at this year’s Canada Games. Councillor Deveau asked that a letter be prepared and sent to the Ms. Cleveland in recognition of this accomplishment.
Councillor Eric Pothier mentioned that Mrs. Aimee Saulnier will be celebrating her 100th anniversary on July 28, 2017. A celebration will be held at the Villa on July 23rd in her honour. Both Warden LeBlanc and Councillor Pothier will attend the celebration to present Mrs. Saulnier with a certificate marking the occasion.
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc asked that congratulatory letters be sent to both Gordon Wilson, MLA and the Honorable Lena Diab, MLA for being re-elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and in the case of Mrs. Diab, for having been named Minister of Immigration and Minister of Acadians Affairs and Francophonie.
8) Correspondence
8.1 Dare to BU – ÉcolesPlus Color Fun Run.
The CAO read a letter outlining a funding request from Dare to BU and the ÉcolesPlus Color Fun Run Committee. (See attached)
Since the request was only received after the event took place, it could not be considered for funding. As such, the CAO read the letter for informational purposes only. Council wished both organizations the best of luck in years to come and invited them to apply next year.
8.2 “Réseau du CRSNG sur l’état des lacs du Canada”
The CAO read a letter from the “Réseau du CRSNG sur l’état des lacs du Canada”. (See attached)
8.3 Journey Back to Birchtown Event – Black Loyalist Heritage Centre
The CAO read a letter from the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre regarding their event “Journey Back to Birchtown”. (See attached)
9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO read his report for the month of June 2017. (See attached)
10) Committee Reports
10.1 Building Permits Report: Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permits report for the month of May.
March
Year Permits Construction Value
2016 12 $438,992
2017 23 $321,710
11) New Business
11.1 Motion to amend By-law No.9, a By-law respecting noise, 2nd and final reading
Given the concerns expressed by area residents regarding the proposed amendments, the Chair of the By-law Committee, Councillor Brian Comeau, recommended the Noise By-law be returned to the Committee for further review.
MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau
that the Municipality of the District of Clare return the proposed amendment to the By-law Committee for further review.
MOTION CARRIED
11.2 Motion to amend By-law No.27, a By-law respecting land use, 1st reading
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare read By-Law No.27 Amendment
No. 27-01-2017, a By-Law Respecting Land Use and that the By-Law be read for the first time by Title only.
MOTION CARRIED
11.3 Housing Needs Assessment – Tri-County Women`s Centre
The CAO provided a brief overview of a financial request received from the Tri-County Women’s Centre for the completion of a housing needs assessment. (See attached). It was recommended that the request be forwarded to the Council-in-Committee meeting for further discussion and that a representative for the Applicant be invited at said meeting to further elaborate on the request.
11.4 Motion to award funding – Projet PG
MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare award a grant of $5,000 to Chad Comeau towards his project entitled Clare PG, conditional upon confirmation of balance of funding. The funds will be distributed in the following manner:
- $2,500 in 2017
- $2,500 in 2018
MOTION CARRIED
11.5 Motion to award tender for demolishing house located at 8543 Highway 1, Meteghan Centre.
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for demolishing the house located at 8543 Highway 1, Meteghan Centre to Spec Resources Inc. in the amount of $5,448.00 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED
11.6 Motion to award funding – Société acadienne de Clare
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare award a grant to “La Société acadienne de Clare, La FRAP and La Maison bouche ouverte” towards their banner project, in the amount of $500 to each organization, for a total of $1,500.
MOTION CARRIED
11.7 Motion to award new vehicle tender
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the tendered bid in the amount of $23,245.33 ($20,115.50 plus $3,129.83 HST) as submitted by Belliveau Motors on June 2nd, 2017 for the purchase of a 2017 Ford Escape.
MOTION CARRIED
11.8 Motion to register a team for the 23rd annual Belliveau Motors Golf Tournament
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare register a team for the 2017 Belliveau Motors Golf Tournament, at a cost of $500.
MOTION CARRIED
11.9 Motion to change signing authorities
With the hiring of the new Director of Finance, the CAO recommended Council pass a motion to revise the signing authorities. Council passed the following motion.
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill
that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare change staff signing authorities as follows;
- From: Connie Saulnier, former Director of Finance
- To: Ginette Cheff, new Director of Finance.
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 Rural Internet
- 12.2 St. Bernard Firehall
- 12.3 Municipal Signage
- 12.4 Contract
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
13) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on July 19th, 2017 at 7:00 pm.
14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:23 pm.