Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, September 20th, 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
Presenter: Planner for WSP Group, Greg Zwicker
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 item be added to the Agenda
- 12.2 Cape Saint Mary’s Lighthouse
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted change.
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 2016/2017 Audited Financial Statements – Paul Comeau, Grant Thornton
Paul Comeau from Grant Thornton presented the Municipality’s Audited Financial Statements for the 2016/2017 fiscal year.
Mr. Comeau mentioned that the auditors did not find any material misstatements of disclosure and that in their opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Municipality of the District of Clare as at March 31, 2017, and the results of its operations, changes in net financial assets and change in financial position for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian Public Sector Accounting Standards.
The 2016/2017 budget projected $6,848,672 in revenue versus $6,896,173 in expenses for a deficit of $47,601. Actual figures for the 2016/2017 fiscal year showed $7,232,887 in revenue and $6,607,045 in expenses, for an annual surplus of $625,842. Mr. Comeau also noted that the Municipality’s net financial assets grew from $1,578,401 in 2015/2016 to $1,865,146 in 2016/2017. In summation, the Municipality`s financial position is sound.
3.2 Proposed amendment to Land Use By-Law No. 27 – Greg Zwicker, WSP Group
Greg Zwicker delivered his presentation on the proposed land-use by-law amendment and the establishment of a protected watershed zone. (See attached).
Once Mr. Zwicker’s presentation complete, the following individuals addressed Council to ask their questions and voice their concerns regarding the proposed by-law amendment: Dominique Hannah, Larry Spinney, Sharon Gaudet, Jamie Theriault, Felix Comeau, Gary Belliveau, Don LeBlanc, Stanley Boudreau, Dave Dow, Dennis Boudreau, Jean-Marc LeBlanc, Darren Comeau, Adrien Comeau, Daniel Muise, Ryan Boudreau, René Belliveau, Gary Melanson. (See attached)
In light of the many concerns and/or objections to the proposed by-law amendment, Council passed the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the proposed land-use by-law amendment be dismissed and that the Municipality cease its current efforts to establish a protected watershed zone.
MOTION CARRIED
4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
4.1 July 19th, 2017: Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the minutes of July 19th, 2017 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
4.2 September 6th, 2017: Council-in-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the minutes of September 6th, 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.
July 28th - Participated in the unveiling of an interpretative panel highlighting Part 2 of Canada`s Official Languages Act. The unveiling took place at the Odyssey monument site at Université Sainte-Anne, Church Point campus.
July 29th Participated in the opening ceremony of the Festival Acadien de Clare.
July 31th - Attended a meeting of the Weymouth Doctor Recruitment Committee
August 15th - Attended the raising of the Acadian flag at the Municipal Office.
August 16th - Council met with the Honourable Derek Mombourquette, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
August 25th - Attended a session for Mayors and Wardens organized by UNSM.
August 30th - Joined MP Colin Fraser for the official announcement of ACOA’s $83,000 contribution towards the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Project.
August 31st - Attended a brunch with the Minister of Health, the Honorable Randy Delorey.
August 31st - September 1st Attended a meeting of CDÉNÉ`s board of directors in Halifax.
September 5th-16th - Participated in a China trade mission organized by the China Business Bureau of Nova Scotia and supported by the provincial government. The goal of the mission was to develop new relationships with China and to explore and promote opportunities in various sectors of interest including education, tourism and business. The Municipality of Clare signed two friendship agreements. These agreements represent a necessary first step in order to start a dialogue regarding the opportunities mentioned above. The first agreement was signed with the Town of Taicang. The second agreement was signed by the Municipality of Digby, the Municipality of Clare and the Town of Jingjiang. A detailed report will be presented to Council in the upcoming weeks.
7) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Eric Pothier congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Edward & Anna Taylor for their 35th wedding anniversary on August 20th, as well as Mr. and Mrs. David & Corinne Coggins for their 50th wedding anniversary on September 1st. Certificates have already been prepared and sent to the couples. He added that he would like to congratulate Mrs. Muriel Saulnier who celebrated her 100th anniversary on September 16th. A certificate has been prepared and will be sent to Mrs. Saulnier.
8) Correspondence
8.1 Letter from the Honourable Derek Mombourquette, Minister of Municipal Affairs
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Derek Mombourquette, Minister of Municipal Affairs. (
See attached)
8.2 Letter from the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth – Warden, Leland Anthony
The CAO read a letter from Warden Leland Anthony of the Municipality of the District of Yarmouth. (See attached). Council passed the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of Clare write a letter to both the MLA for Clare-Digby and the MP for West Nova requesting their support for the placement of a Doppler radar system in Southwest Nova Scotia. (See attached)
MOTION CARRIED
8.3 Letter from the Municipality of the District of Shelburne – Warden, Penny Smith
The CAO read a letter from Warden, Penny Smith from the Municipality of the District of Shelburne. The letter was written in response to the letter received from Warden Leland Anthony and outlined the Municipality of Shelburne’s support for the placement of a Doppler radar system in Southwest Nova Scotia. (See attached)
8.4 Letter from Acadians Affairs and Francophonie – Minister, Lena Metlege Diab
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Acadians Affairs and Francophonie. (See attached)
8.5 Letter from “Association sentier de Clare Rails to Trails Association – Robert A. Theriault
The CAO read a letter from Mr. Robert A. Theriault, President of “l’Association sentier de Clare Rails to Trails Association”. (See attached)
8.6 Letter from Belliveau Motors Limited – Richard Robicheau
The CAO read a letter from Mr. Richard Robicheau, Dealer Principal, Belliveau Motors Limited. (See attached)
8.7 Letter from the Town of Yarmouth – Mayor, Pam Mood
The CAO read a letter from Mayor Pam Mood of the Town of Yarmouth. (See attached)
Council passed the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Council for the Municipality of Clare write a letter to the Nova Scotia Health Authority outlining its support for the establishment of a radiation unit at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital.
MOTION CARRIED
9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the months of August and September 2017. (See attached: August & September)
10) Committee Reports
10.1 Building Permits Report: Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permits reports for the months of June, July and August 2017.
June 2017
Year Permits Construction Value
2016 24 $ 460,122
2017 36 $4,310,460
July 2017
Year Permits Construction Value
2016 20 $ 868,880
2017 30 $ 990,272
August 2017
Year Permits Construction Value
2016 22 $ 905,128
2017 23 $1,360,379
11) New Business
11.1 Motion to transfer $350,000 from the Operating Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund
The CAO stated that it is the Municipality’s practice to transfer the annual surplus from the Operating Fund to the Capital Reserve. Council passed the following motion:
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that $350,000 of the annual surplus for the 2016/2017 fiscal year be transferred from the Operating Fund to the Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED
11.2 Motion to approve the 2016/2017 Audited Financial Statements
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Municipality of District of Clare approve the 2016/2017 Audited Financial Statements for the Municipality of the District of Clare, as prepared by Grant Thornton and as presented to the Audit Committee on September 11th, 2017.
MOTION CARRIED
11.3 Motion to rescind a motion – Clare Fire Fighters Association Accounts Receivables.
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare rescind the following motion made on November 16, 2016:
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
11.4 Motion to award tender – Repairs to roof of Clare Transfer Station
The CAO informed Council that no bids were received in response to the Municipality’s tender to repair the roof at the transfer station. That said, when the fire occurred, Mr. Marc Bourque from Delmar Construction Ltd. was contacted to assess the damage. At that time, Delmar provided an estimate of $8,900 plus tax but didn’t submit a bid. With the tender now closed, the Municipality has contacted Delmar to see if they would be able to take on the project. They have since confirmed their interest in the job and discussions are currently underway in terms of pricing.
11.5 Motion to award tender – Replace 4 (four) garage doors at Clare Transfer Station
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender to replace the 4 garage doors at the Clare Transfer Station to L & L LeBlanc Contracting Ltd. in the amount of $19,293 plus HST for a total of $22,186.95 and that these funds be taken from the Municipality's gas tax reserve.
MOTION CARRIED
11.6 Motion to adjust the allocation of funds granted to the Project Clare PG
MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare adjust the allocation of funds granted to “le Projet Clare PG” as follows:
- $2,220 for 2017-2018
- $2,780 for 2018-2019
MOTION CARRIED
11.7 Motion to name a road – Sheep Pasture Road
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the road shared by the properties PID (Property Identification Number) 30322663, 30322671, 30023527, 30023469, 30023279 and 30023238 be officially named as follows:
In English: Sheep Pasture Road
In French: Chemin du Pâturage
MOTION CARRIED
11.8 Motion to name new administrators on the MasterCard account
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare proceed with completing the process to name the following individuals as administrators for the MasterCard account: Ronnie LeBlanc, Stéphane Cyr, Ginette Cheff and Jeannette Doucet.
MOTION CARRIED
11.9 Motion to amend the impound fee (Dog By-Law No. 12-2016)
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare amend its impound fee for dogs from a flat fee of $200 to a daily rate of $35, in keeping with the rate currently charged by the Nova Scotia SPCA.
MOTION CARRIED
11.10 Engage Nova Scotia – Engagement Clinic
The CAO mentioned that he attended a short session earlier this summer hosted by Engage NS. The session focused on shared challenges encountered by municipal units when trying to engage residents. As a follow-up to this session, a more detailed / comprehensive workshop has been scheduled for October 17th, from 2:00 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Meteghan Fire Hall. This workshop will be tailored to municipal councils and staff and will be open to municipal units from Annapolis to Barrington. In order to offset the costs of putting on this workshop, Engage NS will be asking each municipal unit to contribute $500.
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 Ecoparc
- 12.2 Cap St. Mary Lighthouse Project
PROPOSED BY Warden Nil Doucet 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 October 18th, 2017 at 7:00 pm.
14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 10:26 pm.