Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Philippe Gaudet, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff, Director of Community Development, Pam Doucet, Recreation Manager, Tori Comeau, and Tourism Manager, Larry Peach
Presenters:
ABSENT: Councillors Danny Hill and Nil Doucet


1) Call to Order
The Warden called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

2) Approval of the Agenda
The CAO asked that the following items be added to the agenda:

  • 7.4 Bourneuf Wharf Road Parking Lot
  • 7.5 Request for Funding - Yarmouth Rotary Ribfest

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted additions.
MOTION CARRIED

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None declared.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Staff Reports  
5.1 Financial Update – Ginette Cheff, Director of Finance
The Director of Finance provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position. (pdfSee attached)

6) Business arising from Previous Meetings
None.

7) New Business
7.1 Review of Draft Budget
Community Development staff commenced with an overview of the Department’s sub-budgets (i.e., Tourism, Recreation, Building, Economic Development), as well as Gran Fondo.

From there, the Director of Finance and the CAO presented the remainder of the Municipality’s proposed $11,662,794 operating budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The budget is balanced and calls for the residential and commercial property tax rates to remain unchanged from 2022-2023 levels, specifically $1.04 and $2.07 per $100 of assessment, respectively.

Council was pleased with the proposed budget and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the 2023-2024 operational budget for the Municipality of the District of Clare as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

7.2 Sustainable Services Growth Fund (SSGF)
The CAO received a letter from the Honourable John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, regarding the Sustainable Service Growth Fund (SSGF) (See attached). Under the SSGF, the Municipality has been granted $495,823 for capital projects focusing on housing, wastewater, active transportation, or accessibility. Given the number of municipal projects currently underway, the CAO is recommending these funds first be used to move these projects forward and/or supplement these project budgets in the event of cost overruns.  Council agreed with the CAO’s recommendation and was appreciative of the incremental SSGF funding from the Province.

7.3 Dangerous and Unsightly
Councillor Brian Comeau was contacted about a house in Meteghan River which is currently vacant and showing signs of disrepair. The CAO will refer the matter to the By-law Officer and request that she investigate the matter under the Municipality’s Dangerous and Unsightly By-law.

7.4 Bourneuf Wharf Road Parking lot
An invitational tender was issued for needed repairs to the Bourneuf Wharf Road parking lot. A total of 3 bids were received. Following a review of the bids, it is the recommendation of the CAO that the contract be awarded to Gary Belliveau Construction and Excavation Ltd., in the amount of $3,500 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend accepting the bid from Gary Belliveau Construction and Excavation Ltd., in the amount of $3,500 plus HST, for the needed repairs to the Bourneuf Wharf Road parking lot.
MOTION CARRIED

7.5 Request for Funding - Yarmouth Rotary Ribfest
The CAO was contacted by Paul Comeau of the Yarmouth Rotary Club with a request to once again co-sponsor the Yarmouth Rotary Ribfest’s Acadian Day. The Municipality did so last year in partnership with the Municipality of Argyle and the Coast Financial Credit Union. By all accounts, last year’s event was a resounding success and organizers are hoping to build on that success as they strive to grow the event. Council was in favor of the request and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Brian Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend sponsoring the Yarmouth Rotary Ribfest’s Acadian Day in the amount of $2,500.
MOTION CARRIED

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
None.

9) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
9.1 Acquisition and Sale of Municipal Property
9.2 Personnel Matters
9.3 Contract Negotiations (Grants to Organizations)

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Phillipe Gaudet that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on May 3, 2023, at 7:00 pm.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 pm.

Submitted by
Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant