Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS

PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc; Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc; Councillors, Nil Doucet, Carl Deveau, Danny Hill, Brian Comeau, Philippe Gaudet, and Eric Pothier
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, and Communications Officer, Amy Paradis
Presenters:

ABSENT:

1) Call to Order
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the Council meeting to order at 8:10 pm.

2) (a) Approval of the Agenda

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that the proposed agenda be approved as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

(b) Declaration of conflict of interest
None declared.

3) Presentations
None.

4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings

4.1 October 28, 2020 – Swearing-In Ceremony

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the minutes of the October 28, 2020 Swearing-In Ceremony be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

4.2 October 28, 2020 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the minutes of the October 28, 2020 Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

4.3 November 4, 2020 – Council in Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the minutes of November 4, 2020 be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

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

October 30 – Met with Lisa Richard of ACOA to discuss various municipal projects.

November 2 – Attended a meeting in Yarmouth of the Mayors and Wardens of Digby, Yarmouth, and Shelburne Counties to discuss the lobster fishing crisis in our communities.

November 3 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the CDÉNÉ via Zoom.

November 4 – Attended a meeting of be Board of Directors of Université Sainte-Anne.

November 7 – Participated in an interview with Michel Doucet of Radio-Canada Acadie to discuss the Welcoming Francophone Communities project.

November 11 – Attended the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Clare Veterans Centre with Councillor Carl Deveau.

November 12 – Attended a supper with doctors from the Clare Health Centre to meet with a new medical student.

7) Official Statements from Members of Council
Warden LeBlanc suggested Council send a letter Marcel Cottreau congratulating him on being elected President of the CSAP. Council agreed.

8) Correspondence
8.1 Shawna Comeau and Erin Amirault – Clare Community Health Board
The CAO read a letter from Shawna Comeau and Erin Amirault of the Clare Community Health Board (pdfSee attached).

Councillor Carl Deveau spoke with Ms. Comeau who later clarified that this same letter was sent to multiple communities across the province. The Clare Community Health Board was not aware of Mainland’s ongoing Rural Internet project in Clare. Furthermore, many of the issues highlighted in the letter have already been addressed.

8.2 Pam Mood - Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
The CAO read a letter from Pam Mood of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (pdfSee attached).

The Municipality has paid the $825 invoice as requested.

9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of November 2020. (pdfSee attached)

10) Committee Reports
10.1 Building Permits Report – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permit report for the month of October.

October 2020
Year    Permits       Construction Value     Year to Date
2019    24                $ 746,750                      $ 7,784,504
2020    16                $ 444,810                      $ 8,283,370

10.2 Police Advisory Board – Councillor Carl Deveau
The Police Advisory Board met on November 16 with Corporal Jeff LeBlanc.

The Meteghan River incident from June 2020 was discussed. A total of 13 charges are pending. The individual in question has yet to make his plea in court. In the meantime, all of his firearms have been seized.

The ongoing lobster fishery dispute was discussed. An additional 102-108 RCMP officers, all from within the Atlantic bubble, have been deployed in the region. On the issue of law enforcement, it was made clear that these same officers can issue summary offence tickets for traffic violations.

RCMP have responded to a total of 965 calls from April 1 to November 1, 2020. A detailed list of these calls can be accessed at the municipal office.

Residents have expressed concerns regarding speeding along the Little Brook Road, despite a posted speed limit of 80 km/h. The RCMP will monitor the situation.

11) New Business
11.1 Motion to Award a Contract – Clare Ground Search and Rescue Well
The municipal building which currently houses Clare Ground Search and Rescue (CGSR) is currently without water. The water for this building is provided by Sea Crest Fisheries Ltd. However, due to significant water leak at their facility, the company was left with no option but to close the affected valves until such time as the needed repairs can be made. Despite Sea Crest’s much appreciated cooperation in addressing this issue in a timely manner, the Municipality’s dependence on a private sector business to provide water to the tenants in one of its buildings is less than ideal. With Council’s approval, the CAO (via the Public Works Supervisor) has contacted three well-drilling companies for quotes. Of the three quotes received, the CAO is recommending Council accept the bid from K D Rogers Well Drilling Ltd. at $22.00 per foot of drilling and with a 2-3 week timeline for completion. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare award the contract to construct a new well at the Clare Ground Search and Rescue building to K D Rogers Well Drilling Ltd., at a rate of $22.00 per foot of drilling, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

11.2 Motion to Name a Road – Neri Deveau Road
The Municipality has been approached by three brothers requesting to name their private road after their late father. They are the only property owners along this road and are all in agreement with the proposed name. The request is compliant with the Municipality’s Road Naming Policy. Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare name the road shared by the PIDs (Property Identification Number) listed below as follows:

In English: Neri Deveau Road
In French: chemin Neri Deveau

30367932 30367940 30367957
MOTION CARRIED

11.3 Motion to Send a Letter – Cell Phone Reception
Councillor Pothier was contacted by residents concerned with the quality of cell phone service along Highway 1 from Meteghan to Saulnierville, specifically the poor reception and the number of calls being dropped. Whereas many people no longer have land lines, cell service is very important in the event of an emergency. The CAO had previously spoken with EMO NS before the last hurricane so as to try and prevent a loss off service. Bell sent additional resources to the area and were ready to increase service should the need arise. Bell tested the channels for Emergency Services Providers and 911 and confirmed that these were both operating normally. As such, network capacity was not increased, and cell phone reception remains poor. Seeing as how cell phone service is a matter of public safety, Councillor Pothier would like to send a letter to the cell service providers regarding the state of cell phone reception in Clare. Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Brian Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to Bell Canada, Eastlink, and Rogers Communications regarding the state of cell phone reception in Clare.
MOTION CARRIED

11.4 Motion to Send a Letter – Prix Grand-Pré, Ryan Doucette
Ryan Doucette was awarded the Prix Grand-Pré for 2020. This prize recognizes Nova Scotian artists whose work reflects Acadian cultural values while demonstrating excellence and originality. Council made the following motion to send a congratulatory letter to Mr. Doucette.

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter of recognition to Ryan Doucette, the 2020 recipient of the Prix Grand-Pré Award.
MOTION CARRIED

11.5 Motion to Send a Letter – Mutual Aid Agreement
The Municipality received a letter from the Salmon River Fire Department regarding establishing a mutual aid agreement between the Municipality of Clare and the Municipality of Yarmouth. Council agreed to send a letter to the Municipality of Yarmouth regarding the possibility of entering into a mutual aid agreement and passed the following motion:

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Municipality of Yarmouth proposing the establishment of a Mutual Aid Agreement pertaining to the provision of fire services.
MOTION CARRIED

11.6 Motion to Send a Letter – Lobster Fishery in St. Mary’s Bay
The Mayors, Wardens and CAOs of 11 municipal units in South West Nova Scotia have been meeting to discuss the ongoing lobster dispute. Following the last meeting, a draft letter was circulated to the participating councils regarding the ongoing lobster fishery dispute in St. Mary’s Bay. The letter underscores the concerns of the 11 municipalities involved, with a particular emphasis on public safety and the negative impacts to the regional economy. The intent is to have the letter signed by all 11 municipal units and sent to both the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, and the Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Justin Trudeau. Council was supportive of the letter 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 approve the proposed letter to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, and the Prime Minister of Canada the Honourable Justin Trudeau, regarding the ongoing lobster fishery dispute in St. Mary’s Bay.
MOTION CARRIED

11.7 Motion to Send a Letter – Speed Limit Review
Councillor Pothier was approached by residents concerning the lack of speed limit signs on the d’Entremont Road (from Second Division Road to Salmon River Lake) and the Maxwellton Road (from Highway 1 to the shore). There are children and young families along these roads and the lack of a posted speed limit is a source of concern for many. As such, Councillor Pothier is requesting Council send a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal asking them to review the speed limit on these roads. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal asking it to review the speed limit on the d’Entremont Road (from Second Division Road to Salmon River Lake) and the Maxwellton Road (from Highway 1 to the shore).
MOTION CARRIED

12) In Camera Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to an In-Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics discussed:
12.1 Personnel Matters
12.2 Contract Negotiations

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare, as one of 11 municipal units in South West Nova Scotia mitigating the impacts to the region of the ongoing lobster dispute, accept the proposal submitted by IRIS Communications and Public Affairs for communications and public affairs support and counsel in the amount of $18,000 plus HST, of which the Municipality’s share is $2,655 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden 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 December 16, 2020 at 7:00 pm.

14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 pm.

Submitted by:

Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant