Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Réanne Evans, Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Anique Dugas, and Director of Finance, Christien Deveau
Presenters: CFFA - Dave Doucette and Shawn Craven
ABSENT: Councillor Brian Comeau

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 item be added to the agenda:

• 7.8 Proposal for 2025 Engineering Services, Clare C&D Site

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted addition.
MOTION CARRIED

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None.

4) Presentations
4.1 Clare Firefighters Association (CFFA) – Dave Doucette and Shawn Craven
Dave Doucette and Shawn Craven of the Clare Firefighters Association presented an overview of the 2024 call totals per department and presented a summary of the CFFA’s activities since September 2024. (See attached).

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 Funding Request – Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne is applying to the Province’s Rink Revitalization Fund for necessary electrical upgrades (new 600-volt / 200-amp service) to its arena. The total cost of the project if estimated at $150,000. As part of the funding mix for the project, Université Sainte-Anne is requesting $50,000 from the Municipality. As part of its budgetary planning process, the Municipality includes $50,000 per year for projects at Université Sainte-Anne which benefit both the University and the community and large. Given the importance of the arena to the Municipality, Council was unanimous in its support for this project and passed the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving a contribution of $50,000 to Université Sainte-Anne, in support of its application to the Rink Revitalization Fund for necessary electrical upgrades to the arena.
MOTION CARRIED

7.2 Funding Request – Clare Columbus Club
The Clare Columbus Club is applying to the Province’s Community Facility Improvement Program for needed renovations and improvements to its hall in Comeauville. The total project has been priced at $40,696. The request to the Province is for 75% of the total project cost or $30,522. The Clare Columbus Club is contribution 10 % ($4,070) and is seeking the remaining 15% ($6,104) from the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations Program. The CAO has reviewed the application and, whereas the hall in question is widely used by the community, is recommending Council approve the funding request as part of the Municipality 2025-26 Grants to Organizations Program, subject to the confirmation of the balance of project funding. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving a contribution from its 2025-26 Grants to Organizations Program to the Clare Columbus Club in support of its hall renovation project, and that said contribution be equal to 15% of the total project cost (up to a maximum of $6,104) and conditional upon confirmation of the balance of project funding.
MOTION CARRIED

7.3 Request for Tax Exemption – La Vieille Maison
La Vieille Maison is seeking a municipal tax exemption. The organization have invested a lot of time and effort in restoring the historic property which now operates as a museum. It was a very popular destination during the CMA 2024 and plans are ongoing to build on this momentum and further develop the property. According to the CAO, this request is consistent with other historically and/or culturally significant properties throughout the Municipality who were previously granted municipal tax exemptions. As such, the CAO is recommending Council grant this request subject to La Vieille Maison’s continued operations as a museum. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving a municipal tax exemption for La Vielle Maison (PID 30071336), and that said exemption be conditional on its continued operations as a museum.
MOTION CARRIED

7.4 Request for Access Under the Road Trails Act – Dick Thériault Road
The Sou’West ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. The Road Trails Act is an act respecting the operation of off-highway vehicles on designated highways. For this particular application, the Sou’West ATV Association is requesting access to the full length of the Dick Theriault Road from point 44.436786, -66.998269, to NS Trunk 1, and along NS Trunk 1 to 3334 Trunk 1, Belliveau Cove. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government for road trail access for the full length of the Dick Theriault Road from point 44.436786, -66.998269, to NS Trunk 1, and along NS Trunk 1 to 3334 Trunk 1, Belliveau Cove.
MOTION CARRIED

7.5 Request for Access Under the Road Trails Act – Isadore Thibault Road
The Sou’West ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. For this particular application, the Sou’West ATV Association is requesting access from the intersection of Isadore Thibault Road and NS Trunk 1, Church Point, along the Isadore Thibault Road to point 44.296537, -66.013467. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government for road trail access from the intersection of Isadore Thibault Road and NS Trunk 1, Church Point, along the Isadore Thibault Road to point 44.296537, -66.013467.
MOTION CARRIED

7.6 Request for Access Under the Road Trails Act – Margo Road
The Sou’West ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. For this particular application, the Sou’West ATV Association is requesting access from the intersection of Margo Road and NS Highway 1 to the intersection of Margo Road and NS Highway 340. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government for road trail access from the intersection of Margo Road and NS Highway 1 to the intersection of Margo Road and NS Highway 340.
MOTION CARRIED

7.7 Request for Access Under the Road Trails Act – Grosses Coques Road
The Sou’West ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. For this particular application, the Sou’West ATV Association is requesting access from the intersection of the Grosses Coques Road and NS Highway 1, along the Grosses Coques Road to point 44.296537, -66.01467. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government for road trail access from the intersection of Grosses Coques Road and NS Highway 1, along the Grosses Coques Road to point 44.296537, -66.01467.
MOTION CARRIED

7.8 Proposal for 2025 Engineering Services, Clare C&D Site
The Municipality of Clare is currently updating the monitoring programs for its Transfer Station and

C & D Debris Disposal Site to comply with new provincial legislation. EXP. has been hired to facilitate this exercise. In order to meet these new regulations, and in doing so renew its approval to operate, the Municipality must construct an additional multi-level monitoring well and complete a leachate management plan. Whereas the Municipality has already budgeted for this contingency as part of its 2024-25 operational budget, and given that it has already engaged with EXP. on the related monitoring program updates, the CAO is recommending Council accept the proposal put forward by EXP. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend accepting the proposal from EXP. for the establishment of a new monitoring well at the municipal C & D site and the development of a leachate management plan, in the amount of $23,600 plus HST and $2,400 plus HST respectively.
MOTION CARRIED

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
Shawn Craven asked that the CAO communicate with the Sou’West ATV Association with regards to proper road names. There have been issues where the public has used the colloquial name for a road in an emergency and emergency services have been dispatched to the wrong location. This is particularly an issue with Major Road, Margo Road, and Major Point Road.

Anique Dugas recommended the Municipality invest in the placement of a promotional sign at the arena, similar to what other organizations and/or businesses are currently doing, in recognition of its ongoing support for the facility. The CAO agreed and will follow-up with the University.

Anique Dugas also asked if the aforementioned requests from the Sou’West ATV Association are part of the WREN’s “Get Side Tracked” project. According to the CAO, the WREN has previously indicated that they are in contact with both the Sou’West ATV Association and the Clare Rails to Trails Association in regards to the ‘‘Get Side Tracked’’ project. That said, he is not aware of the extent and the current status of these discussions and will follow-up when next in contact with the WREN.

9) Closed Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau 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 Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend accepting the proposed municipal employee salary scales as presented, for the three-year period commencing April 1, 2025, and ending March 31, 2028.
MOTION CARRIED

9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on March 5, 2025, at 7:00 pm.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau to adjourn the meeting at 9:23 pm.

Submitted by
Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant