Municipality of the District of Clare

COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, April 4th, 2018 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, Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff; Receptionist / Administrative Assistant, Ashley Hanks
Public:
ABSENT:

1) Call to order
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the 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.

 6.5 Request for Decision, be removed from the Agenda and replaced with UNSM Spring
Workshop.
 6.9 Municipal Planning be added under “New Business”
 6.10 Grants to Organization be added under “New Business”
 6.11 Chemin de l’Allée des Blacks be added under “New Business”
 8.3 Personnel be added under “Closed Session”

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted changes.
MOTION CARRIED

(b) Declaration of conflict of interest
None

3) Presentations
None

4) Staff reports

4.1 Financial Report – Ginette Cheff, Director of Finance
The Director of Finance provided an update on the Municipality’s financial position. (See attached)

5) Business arising from previous meetings
5.1 Plastic Film – Input on Region 7 Resolution
Following the presentation by Waste Check, Council has been asked to confirm its position on the proposed ban on plastic film. After reviewing the issue, Council is prepared to support the Province’s effort to introduce a ban on plastic film. Furthermore, Council believes any such ban should also include the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and asks the CAO to draft a resolution to that effect. Presently, Nova Scotia is one of only two Canadian provinces to not implement EPR.

6) New business
6.1 Solid Waste By-law
The By-law Committee met on April 3rd to review the proposed solid waste by-law, as presented by Waste Check for implementation throughout Region 7. The Committee made a few minor edits to the by-law which was then forwarded to the Municipality’s solicitor for further review. Barring any major changes to the by-law, it will be presented to Council for first reading on April 18, 2018.

6.2 UNSM Priorities for 2018
UNSM has requested feedback from its member municipal units regarding priorities for 2018. A list of 10 topics was provided. Upon review of the available choices, Council for the Municipality of Clare chose Extended Producer Responsibility as its priority and passed the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the UNSM identifying Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as its priority for 2018, amongst the choices provided by UNSM, and strongly underscoring that although previously identified as a priority by Council in 2017, Rural High Speed Internet nevertheless remains atop Council list of priorities for 2018 onward.
MOTION CARRIED

6.3 Fire Departments – 2018/19 Capital Funding
The area rate for 2018-2019 is expected to remain fixed at $0.05 per $100 of assessment which in turn, will generate $286,676. Once principal and interest payments have been made on the existing fire equipment loans, at total of $116,477 will remain for new capital purchases. Upon review of the 5-year capital plans submitted by the 8 fire departments currently serving the Municipality of Clare, a list of items totalling $106,251 was recommended for purchase. (See attached). Council passed the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the proposed 2018/2019 Fire Department Capital Funding expenditures as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

6.4 Fire Departments – 2018/19 Operational Funding
The proposed 2018-2019 operational funding allocations for the Municipality’s 8 fire departments have been prepared for Council’ review and consideration (See attached). The allocations are based on 2017-2018 levels and adjusted for cost of living (1.1%). Council passed the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council of the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the proposed 2018/2019 Fire Department Operational Funding allocations, conditional upon review of the department’s 2017 financial statements.
MOTION CARRIED

6.5 UNSM Spring Workshop
The UNSM Spring Workshop will be held in Yarmouth from May 10th to May 12th, 2018. Registrations are now open. Council is asked to advise the CAO as to their availability.

6.6 Western Counties Regional Library Funding
The Municipality has received a request for financial assistance in the amount of $4,990 plus HST for the purchase of chairs for the Meteghan library. This request is in addition to the $53,337 in annual operational funding already provided to the Western Counties Regional Library (WCRL) by the Municipality. In addition to the $53,337, the Municipality also pays for lights, heat and maintenance of the library branch in Meteghan. While Council and staff are certainly supportive of the library, questions exist around the current funding formula. In light of these questions, the CAO will invite the WCRL’s Regional Director, Mrs. Erin Comeau, to speak with Council at a future meeting.

6.7 Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Gala
As per custom, the Municipality has purchased a table for 8 at the annual Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Gala. An invitation has been extended to the Municipality’s volunteer of the year (and his/her spouse) to join members of council at this table. Councillors wishing to attend this event are asked to communicate with the CAO.

6.8 Volunteer Banquet
The Municipality’s annual volunteer banquet will be held on April 19th, 2018 at the Clare Veterans Centre. Councillors planning to attend are asked to communicate with Réanne Flynn.

6.9 Municipal Planning
The Municipality has a number of planning documents which are dated and in need of revision. These include the Municipality’s Planning Strategy and Economic Development Plan. A targeted consultation process focusing on key sectors and/or community stakeholders will be launched early in the Fall of 2018.

6.10 Grants to Organization
Councillors have received their folders containing this year’s applications under the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations program. These will be reviewed at the special meeting of Council on Monday, April 9th, 2018.

6.11 L’Allée des Blacks Road
Councillors Brian Comeau and Carl Deveau have received concerns regarding vehicular safety relating to l’Allée des Blacks Road, specifically speeding and the lack of guard rails. L’Allée des Blacks Road is owned by the Province of Nova Scotia. Council shares these concerns and passed the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Brian Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal outlining Council`s concerns regarding vehicular safety on Allée des Blacks Road and requesting the department promptly initiate a study to assess the matter at hand and address said concerns.
MOTION CARRIED

7) Questions and comments from the public
None

8) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics discussed:
- 8.1 Ecoparc
- 8.2 CAO Evaluation

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

9) Date and time of next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on May 2nd, 2018 at 7:00 PM.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:52PM.

Submitted by

Alain Poirier,
Administrative Assistant of the CAO