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Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook
PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Réanne Evans, Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, and Carl Deveau,
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Director of Finance, Christien Deveau, Communications Officer, Anique Dugas
Presenters: Denise Comeau–Desautels and Gene LeBlanc for the Bangor Development Commission; Natalie Robichaud and Marcel Aymar for the Société Acadienne de Clare
ABSENT: Councillor Nadine Comeau
1) Call to Order
The Warden called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2) Approval of the Agenda
Councillor Danny Hill asked that the following item be added to the agenda.
- 7.6 Water Bombers
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted addition.
MOTION CARRIED
3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None.
4) Presentations
4.1 Bangor Development Commission – Denise Comeau–Desautels, President
Denise Comeau–Desautels and Gene LeBlanc from the Bangor Development Commission informed Council of needed repairs to the dam at the site of the former Bangor Sawmill and Museum. More specifically (and despite recent repairs), there is now a leak under the concrete structure which according to the Commission, may impact the 23 homes along the river. As per provincial regulations, these repairs must be completed before September 30th. Failure to do so means the work must be delayed until next year. The cost for these repairs has been quoted at $26,265. Spec Resources Inc. has offered an in-kind contribution of $14,139 towards these repairs. The Commission is asking Council for assistance with the remaining $12,546 plus HST. Council thanked the Commission members for their presentation and advised that they would be responding to their request shortly.
4.2 Société acadienne de Clare – Natalie Robichaud, Directrice générale
The Société acadienne de Clare (with the permission of Université Sainte-Anne) is spearheading a project to modernize the currently under-utilized theatre (i.e., Salle Marc-Lescarbot) on the university’s Church Point Campus. (
See attached)
Total project costs are estimated at $700,000 and discussions with prospective project funders (PCH, ACOA, Province of NS) have been very positive to date. That said, as part of the proposed funding mix, the Société acadienne de Clare must raise 10% of the total project cost (i.e., $70,000). To this end, the Société is respectfully requesting these funds be sourced from the surplus funds given to the Municipality from the CMA 2024. These funds are expressly earmarked for legacy projects stemming from the CMA 2024. The proposed theatre modernization is consistent with that criterion. Council thanked the Société Acadienne de Clare for their efforts to better this valued piece of cultural infrastructure and agreed to take this request under consideration.
5) Staff Reports
5.1 Financial Update – Christien Deveau, Director of Finance
The Director of Finance provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position. (See attached)
6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.
7) NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Tender – 8478 Highway 1 Sanitary Services
A tender for the expansion of the Meteghan sewer system at 8478 Highway 1 was issued with a closing date of August 14, 2025. This planned expansion will enable the development of new, much needed housing units in the Meteghan area. A total of five bids were received. Following a review of the bids by both the project engineer and the CAO, it is recommended that Council accept the bid from Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd. in the amount of $73,959 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the tender for 8478 Highway 1 Sanitary Services to Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd. in the amount of $73,959 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED
7.2 Call for Applications – Police Advisory Board
With Jocelyne LeBlanc’s term having expired, and John Chant having submitted his resignation, there are currently two vacancies on the Municipality’s Police Advisory Board. To fill these vacancies, a call for expressions of interest (EOI) was launched on July 24th on both Facebook and in the Clare Shopper. The deadline for application was set for August 22, 2025. A total of ten applications were received. Following a review of these applications, it is the recommendation of the Police Advisory Board members that Council appoint Claude Belliveau and Isaac Comeau to the Board. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend appointing Claude Belliveau and Issac Comeau to the Municipality’s Police Advisory Board.
MOTION CARRIED
7.3 Dangerous and Unsightly
The two buildings located at 38 and 43 Belliveau Cove Road respectively have been the subject of public complaints / concerns and have both been deemed dangerous by the Municipality`s Public Works Staff. Given their current state (and in the interest of public safety), it is recommended that both be torn down and the site cleared of debris. The owner of the buildings in question has been advised of this recommendation and is fully supportive. Unfortunately (as per our last discussion) she does not have the funds needed to proceed with the demolition at this time but is open to the cost of said demolition being added to her tax bill for these properties. That being said, and for the reasons cited above, the CAO is recommending that the Municipality undertake the demolition and is seeking Council`s approval to issue a tender, with the understanding that any bids received in response to said tender will be presented to Council for consideration at a later date. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend issuing a tender for the demolition of the two buildings located at 38 and 43 Belliveau Cove Road, Belliveau Cove.
MOTION CARRIED
7.4 REMO Update
The Province of Nova Scotia is directing all Municipalities to join or establish a Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO). The Municipality of Clare currently has its own Emergency Management Organization (EMO) but is not part of a larger REMO. That being said, the CAO has reached out to the Municipality and the Town of Digby to discuss the possibility of joining their REMO, in the hopes of establishing a true Digby County response. A meeting has since been held with all three CAOs and Digby`s Regional Emergency Management Coordinator, Bruce Snell, to further advance this new partnership. A preliminary plan has been put forward highlighting needed steps and key milestones and is expected to take roughly 12 months to implement. The CAO will provide timely updates to Council as progress warrants.
7.5 NSFM Fall Conference
The NSFM Fall Conference will be held in Halifax, from November 4th to 7th, 2025. The CAO is asking councillors to let him know if they plan on attending, so as to finalize event registration and accommodations.
7.6 Water Bombers
With forest fires becoming a more common occurrence throughout Nova Scotia, Councillor Danny Hill is recommending Council send a letter to the Honourable Kim Masland, Minister of Emergency Management, advocating for the purchase of water bomber planes to build the province’s airborne firefighting capacity. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend sending a letter to the Honourable Kim Masland, Minister of Emergency Management, advocating for the purchase of water bomber planes to build the province’s airborne firefighting capacity.
MOTION CARRIED
8) Questions and Comments from the Public
Gerard Theriault asked if modifications could be made to the Wentworth Boat Launch to allow boaters to launch their boats more safely and in doing so, minimize the risk of damage to the boats themselves or municipal infrastructure. The CAO welcomed the comment and will ask staff to review the matter.
Anique Dugas underscored the need and the importance for the proposed investments in the theatre at Université Sainte-Anne and expressed her support for the proposed demolition of the two buildings in Belliveau Cove.
MOTION CARRIED
9) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics Discussed:
9.1 Personnel Matters
9.2 Contract Negotiations
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend contributing $10,000 to the Bangor Development Commission for needed repairs to the dam located at the site of the former Bangor Sawmill and Museum and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations program.
MOTION CARRIED
9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on October 1, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting at 9:17 p.m.
Submitted by
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant