Municipality of the District of Clare

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Wednesday, March 15th, 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: Arnold Comeau
ABSENT:    None

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

2) (a) Approval of the Agenda

MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the proposed agenda be approved as presented.
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 Arnold Comeau – 30 years of service
The Warden presented an award on behalf of Council to Arnold Comeau, Building Inspector, in recognition of his 30 years of service and devotion to the Municipality. The Warden thanked Mr. Comeau for his many years of service and commented that throughout this time, he has always demonstrated professionalism and integrity in his dealings with both the public and his colleagues.

4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings

4.1 February 15th, 2017: Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Minutes of February 15th, 2017 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

4.2 March 1st, 2017: Council-in-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Minutes of March 1st, 2017 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
No items

6) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
The Warden provided a summary of the meetings and events he attended since the last Council meeting.

February 24th A special UNSM workshop was held in Halifax on the subject of transparency and accountability with a particular focus on two key policies: Expenses and Hospitality.

February 27th Colin Fraser announced project funding (ACOA) for three municipal projects: the Cultural Hub, the Sewer Extension on John Thibodeau Road and further renovations to the Clare Veteran’s Centre. After the presentation, Mr. Fraser met with Council to discuss municipal priorities.

February 28th Board of directors meeting of the Villa Acadienne.

March 1st Meeting in Annapolis Royal with Warden Jimmy MacAlpine (Municipality of the District of Digby) and Warden Timothy Habinski (Municipality of the County of Annapolis) to discuss Annapolis’ recent trip to China and the resulting opportunities for their region.

March 2nd-3rd Board meeting of the CDENE in Halifax.

March 10th South Western Shore Regional Meeting (UNSM) to discuss regional issues / questions of interest to local municipal units.

7) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Brian Comeau congratulated Mr. Gilles Theriault, from A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd. on behalf of Council for his introduction into the Atlantic Canada Marine Industries Hall of Fame. Council asked that the Administrative Assistant to the CAO prepare a congratulatory letter for Mr. Theriault, as well as a certificate, in recognition of this honor.

8) Correspondence

8.1 Invitation – 13th Annual Recognition Event – Société acadienne de Clare
The CAO read a letter received from la Société acadienne de Clare. (See attached)

8.2 Letter – Minister of Natural Resources
The CAO read a letter received from the Minister of Natural Resources. (See attached)

8.3 Email inquiry – Lyme Disease Awareness Month
The CAO read a letter received from the Nova Scotia representative of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation. (See attached)

9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO read his report for the month of March 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 February.

February
Year Permits Construction Value
2016 5 $422,560
2017 4 $308,680

10.2 Villa Acadienne: Councillor Brian Comeau
The Villa’s Board of Directors met on February 28th. A consulting firm will be hired in April 2017 to prepare a business plan for a replacement facility to the existing Villa. Once complete, the plan will be presented to the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness. Although the location of the new Villa has yet to be determined, a total of eight expressions of interest have been received highlighting prospective sites for consideration.

10.3 Waste Check: Councillor Carl Deveau
The Waste Check Committee met on February 13th. Work on the proposed waste by-law is progressing and should be complete in the coming week. There was also discussion regarding the current distribution of flyers which the Committee considers to be problematic. Waste Check is advocating for these to be placed in an appropriate mailbox (or tube) at each residence and is currently in discussions with the company distributing these flyers.

10.4 South West Nova Biosphere Reserve Association – Councillor Carl Deveau
The Association met on February 13th to discuss their current UNESCO membership. At present, the Association’s membership is up for review by UNESCO. The Association will send one of its members to Paris, France to attend an upcoming UNESCO meeting and present on behalf of the Association.

11) New Business

11.1 Motion to award tender – Construction of a 12’ x 16’ building at the Church Point Waste Water Treatment Plant

The CAO mentioned that the tender for a 12’ x 16’ building at the Church Point Waste Water Treatment Plant was opened on March 9th, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the Municipal Office. Only one bid was received. Since the bid was within budget, he recommended Council award the contract to the party in question. Council passed the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council of the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for the construction of a 12’ x 16’ building at the Church Point Waste Water Treatment Plant to Jacques Deveau Construction in the amount of $20,156.05 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

11.2 Motion to award tender – Cultural Hub Project: Renovations, (including new porch/entry and renovation of former court house space)

The CAO mentioned that the tender for renovating the schoolhouse building in Comeauville (i.e. CIFA Building) was opened on March 9th, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the Municipal Office. Two bids were received. In keeping with the CAO’s recommendation, Council passed the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that Council of the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for renovations (including a new porch/entry and renovation of the former court house space) to Shep-Com Construction Ltd. in the amount of $66,956.52 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

11.3 Motion to award tender – Cultural Hub Project: Re-shingling of the roof and other repairs to the former court house

The CAO mentioned that this tender had been opened last year but was never officially awarded. In order to do so, an official motion of Council was required. Council passed the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council of the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for re-shingling of the roof and other repairs to the former court house in Comeauville to Shep-Com Construction Ltd. in the amount of $44,347.82 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

11.4 Motion to write letter of support – Colonie Jeunesse Acadienne (CJA)

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the CJA in support of their climbing/rappelling wall project.
MOTION CARRIED

11.5 Motion to approve renaming of road in Saulnierville

MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare make the following changes:

1) The road previously named Saulnierville Road (from the wharf to Highway 1) be
officially renamed Saulnierville Wharf Road.
2) The road previously named Saulnierville Wharf Road be officially renamed
Saulnierville Harbour Road.
MOTION CARRIED

11.6 Motion to appoint the new Assistant Building Inspector and Assistant Fire Inspector

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Daniel Gaudet as the new Assistant Building Inspector and Assistant Fire Inspector for the Municipality of Clare.
MOTION CARRIED

11.7 Motion to apply to appoint Gary Sullivan as Special Constable

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare make an application to the Department of Justice for the appointment of Gary Sullivan as Special Constable under the Nova Scotia Police Act for the Enforcement of Legislation and/or Municipal By-Laws.
MOTION CARRIED

11.8 Motion to apply to appoint Daniel Gaudet as Special Constable

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare make an application to the Department of Justice for the appointment of Daniel Gaudet as Special Constable under the Nova Scotia Police Act for the Enforcement of Legislation and/or Municipal By-Laws.
MOTION CARRIED

11.9 Motion to grant $4,000 to the Lions Club

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare grant $4,000 to the Meteghan Lions Club towards the purchase of 4 new fryers.
MOTION CARRIED

11.10 Motion to survey Placide Comeau Rd. (from Route 1 to the shoreline)

The CAO stated that this item was placed on the agenda following a recommendation from the municipal solicitor at the March 1, 2017 Council-in-Committee meeting (in Closed Session). Council passed the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare survey the Placide Comeau Rd., from Route 1 towards the shoreline. Following completion of the survey, it is further recommended that the Municipality enter into a boundary line agreement with the abutting land owners so as to ensure the road does not encroach on their respective parcels.
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.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics discussed:
12.1 Rural Internet
12.2 Personnel

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau 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 April 19th, 2017 at 7:00 pm.

14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 pm.

Submitted by:

Alain Poirier,
Administrative Assistant of the CAO