Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, November 16th, 2016 at 7:00 pm
PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet; Councillors, Danny Hill, Hector Thibault, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, Eric Pothier and Yvon LeBlanc
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Administrative Assistant to the CAO Alain Poirier
Public: Members of the Clare Fire Fighters Association and Annie Lalancette.
ABSENT: None
1) Call to Order
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) (a) Approval of the Agenda
The Warden asked that the following changes be made to the Agenda
- Item 11.6 be removed and deferred to the next Council-in-Committee meeting
- Item 12.1: Personnel be added under Closed Session
- Item 12.2: Acadian Oath of Allegiance be added under Closed Session
MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault 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 Annie Lalancette: Community based Response to Marine Hazards
Mrs. Annie Lalancette presented to Council the result of her studies regarding a community based response to marine hazards. (
See attached)
3.2 Daniel Gaudet: St Bernard Fire Department (Training)
Mr. Daniel Gaudet introduced the new training committee they have established and explained the objective of said committee. (File's too large - available at municipal office)
4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
4.1 October 26th, 2016: Swearing in ceremony
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Minutes of October 26th, 2016 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
4.2 October 26th, 2016: Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Minutes of October 26th, 2016 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
4.3 November 2nd, 2016: Council-in-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Minutes of November 2nd, 2016 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 he attended since the last Council meeting.
November 2nd Speech was given at the opening of the National Week of Francophone Immigration at E.S.D.C.
November 3rd Session on the advancement of women in the economy at E.S.D.C.
November 5th Board of directors meeting at Université Sainte-Anne
November 11th Remembrance Day ceremony at the Clare Veterans Center
7) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Brian Comeau wished a happy 25th wedding anniversary on November 16th to William and Jeanne Comeau and requested that the Municipality of Clare issue a certificate.
Councillor Eric Pothier asked that the Municipality of Clare send a congratulatory letter to Riverside Lobster International for winning two awards (large business of the year award and the export achievement award) at the Yarmouth and Area Chambre of Commerce Annual Banquet.
Councillor Carl Deveau wished a happy 50th wedding anniversary to Stanley and Rose Marie Thimot and requested that the Municipality of Clare issue a certificate. He also thanked all those who routinely pick up garbage during their walks.
8) Correspondence
8.1 Letter from Réal Boudreau, d’Entremont & Boudreau
The CAO read a letter received from Réal Boudreau of d’Entremont & Boudreau. (See attached)
8.2 Carlton River Watershed Area Water Quality Monitoring Steering Committee
The CAO read a letter received from the Carlton River Watershed Area Water Quality Monitoring Steering Committee. (See attached)
PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill to appoint Councillor Yvon LeBlanc as the alternate on the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Committee.
MOTION CARRIED
PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill to appoint Councillor Carl Deveau on the Western County Regional Library Committee.
MOTION CARRIED
8.3 UNSM Expression of Interest for Committees
The CAO read a letter received from UNSM. (See attached)
9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO read his report. (See attached)
10) Committee Reports
10.1 Building Permits Report: Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read his report for the month of October.
October
Year Permits Construction Value
2015 24 $638,260
2016 20 $573,860
10.2 Planning Advisory Committee: Councillor Danny Hill
No report.
10.3 Police Advisory: Deputy Warden Nil Doucet
No report.
10.4 Villa Acadienne: Councillor Brian Comeau
No report.
10.5 Waste Check: Councillor Carl Deveau
No report.
11) New Business
11.1 Motion to reduce accounts receivable from the Fire Departments
The CAO explained that the proposed reduction of $200,000 has been discussed with and agreed to by the Municipality’s auditors as a proper means of addressing a previously uncorrected accounting error.
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Municipality of the District of Clare transfer the amount of $200,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund to the Operating Fund (GL # 32770) for the purpose of reducing the receivables from the Fire Departments to actuals, and that such funds were budgeted and collected through an Area Rate for the Fire Departments’ Capital in the fiscal years 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.
MOTION CARRIED
11.2 Motion to appoint Member at large to the Board of Directors of the Villa acadienne
MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Mrs. Angeline Thimot as the new community member on the Villa acadienne Board of Directors.
MOTION CARRIED
11.3 Motion to approve contribution to the Meteghan Park Development Association
The CAO explained that the Municipality of the District of Clare has been approached by Mr. Harold Boudreau in order to renovate / upgrade the Meteghan Park. Mr. Boudreau and his association are requesting a funding contribution of $5,000 towards the proposed park renovation project.
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute $5,000 to the Meteghan Park Development Association, in support of its park renovation project, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s 2017-2018 budget.
MOTION CARRIED
11.4 Motion to contribute up to 25% towards the cost of extending the current sewer system in Meteghan.
The CAO informed Council of potential development opportunities in the near future, along the John Thibodeau Road (towards the shore), resulting in incremental capital investments and new job creation. These development opportunities are contingent upon access to the municipal sewer system. Federal funding is available to aid with the cost of extending the current sewer system however, municipal funding is also required. As such, Council passed the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute up to 25% of the costs of extending the current sewer system in Meteghan towards the shore, along the John Thibodeau Road.
MOTION CARRIED
11.5 Motion to write a letter of support to the Salmon River Salmon Association
The CAO explained that following Mr Roland LeBlanc’s presentation, Council passed a motion to recommend writing a letter of support for the Association’s lake water quality testing project.
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare issue a letter of support to the Salmon River Salmon Association for their lake water quality testing project.
MOTION CARRIED
12) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Brian Comeau that Council proceed to an In-Camera Session.
Topics discussed:
12.1 Personnel
12.2 Acadian Oath of Allegiance
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a leave of absence for Andrea Gaudet for a period of seven months, starting December 12th, 2016.
MOTION CARRIED
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare directs its CAO to investigate and try to acquire an Acadien Oath of Allegiance, not exceeding the amount of five thousand dollars ($5 000).
MOTION CARRIED
13) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on December 21st, 2016 at 7:00 pm.
14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:11pm.