Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, March 1st, 2017 at 7:00 pm
PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet, Councillors, Carl Deveau, Eric Pothier, Hector Thibault and Yvon LeBlanc.
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr; Administrative Assistant to the CAO, Alain Poirier,
Public: Université Sainte-Anne, Vice-Chancellor, Allister Surette, Russell Comeau and Brian Melanson from the Meteghan Lions Club.
ABSENT: Councillors Brian Comeau and Danny Hill
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 items be added to the Agenda.
• 6.3 – UNSM Meeting under “New Business”
• 6.4 – Grants to Organizations under “New Business”
• 6.5 – Motion to recommend appointing the new Assistant Building Inspector and Assistant Fire Inspector under “New Business”
• 6.6 – Motion to recommend applying to appoint Gary Sullivan as Special Constable under “New Business”
• 6.7 – Motion to recommend applying to appoint Daniel Gaudet as Special Constable under “New Business”
• 8.5 – Rural Internet under “Closed Session”
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted additions.
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 Université Sainte-Anne Signage – Allister Surette
The Vice-Chancellor of Université Sainte-Anne, Allister Surette addressed Council regarding the possibility of replacing the Municipality’s existing signs along Highway 101 with new signs promoting the Municipality as the home of Université Sainte-Anne. Council was in favour of the idea and asked the CAO to instruct staff to work with Mr. Surette in further researching this idea
3.2 Lions Club – Russell Comeau
Mr. Russell Comeau and Mr. Brian Melanson from the Meteghan Lions Club requested Council’s assistance with the purchase of 4 new fryers. These fryers are used extensively by the Lions Club as part of their many fundraising activities. Last year alone, the Lions contributed over $25,000 to various causes within the Municipality. Council passed the following motion to recommend.
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend to grant $4,000.00 to the Meteghan Lions Clubs towards the purchase of 4 new fryers.
MOTION CARRIED
4) Staff reports
4.1 Financial Report – CAO Stéphane Cyr
The CAO updated Council as to the Municipality’s financial position. (Copy available at the Municipal Office)
5) Business arising from previous meetings
5.1 Update on illegal dumpsite
The CAO gave an update to Council regarding the illegal dumpsite currently overrun with lobster shells. Mr. Ritchie Nickerson, By-Law Enforcement Officer for Wastecheck, has visited the site and stated that it is clearly illegal. The matter was forwarded to the Nova Scotia Department of Environment. Officers from said department have also visited the site and later confirmed they will be sending a letter to the owner offering two options:
1. Remove all the shells and transport them to a compost facility, or;
2. Land apply (i.e. bury) following removal of all the rubber bands
Given the volume of shells, remediation of the site will take some time.
6) New business
6.1 Letter of support – Colonie Jeunesse Acadienne (CJA)
The CAO explained that the Municipality have received a request from “La CJA” for letter of support for their proposed climbing/rappelling wall project.
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the CJA in support of their climbing/rappelling wall project.
MOTION CARRIED
6.2 Renaming of road in Saulnierville
The CAO mentioned that some residents of Saulinerville Road (from the wharf to Highway 1) have requested to rename this section of the road, Saulnierville Wharf Road. As part of this same request, the road currently named Saulnierville Wharf Road would be renamed Saulnierville Harbour Road. The request has been vetted by municipal staff and is compliant with the Municipality's road naming policy. Council passed the following motion to recommend.
PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau
that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend the following:
• 1. The road previously named Saulnierville Road (from the wharf to Highway 1) be officially renamed Saulnierville Wharf Road.
• 2. The road previously named Saulvierville Wharf Road be officially renamed Saulnierville Harbour Road.
MOTION CARRIED
6.3 UNSM Meeting
The CAO mentioned to Council that there will be a UNSM regional meeting on March 10th, 2017 in Yarmouth.
6.4 Grants to Organizations
The CAO mentioned to Council that the add for the Grants to Organizations program will be posted in the Clare Shopper next week, as well as on the municipal website and Facebook page. Completed applications must be submitted by Thursday, March 30th, 2017 before 4:30 pm.
6.5 Motion to recommend appointing the new Assistant Building Inspector and Assistant Fire Inspector
For administrative purposes, the CAO mentioned that a motion to recommend was required in support of the recent hiring of Mr. Daniel Gaudet as the new Assistant Building Inspector and Assistant Fire Inspector. Council passed the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend appointing Daniel Gaudet as the new Assistant Building Inspector and Assistant Fire Inspector for the Municipality of Clare.
MOTION CARRIED
6.6 Motion to recommend applying to appoint Gary Sullivan as Special Constable
With Arnold Comeau retiring in June 2017, the CAO is requesting that Council pass a motion allowing him to start the process of appointing Gary Sullivan as a Special Constable. Council passed the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault
that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend making application to the Department of Justice for the appointment of Gary Sullivan as Special Constable under the Nova Scotia Police Act for the Enforcement of Legislation and/or Municipal By-Laws.
MOTION CARRIED
6.7 Motion to recommend applying to appoint Daniel Gaudet as Special Constable
With Arnold Comeau retiring in June 2017, the CAO is requesting that Council pass a motion allowing him to start the process of appointing Daniel Gaudet as a Special Constable. Council passed the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend making application to the Department of Justice for the appointment of Daniel Gaudet as Special Constable under the Nova Scotia Police Act for the Enforcement of Legislation and/or Municipal By-Laws.
MOTION CARRIED
7) Question and comments from the public
None.
8) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that Council proceed to an In-Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics discussed:
• 8.1 Placide Comeau Rd.
• 8.2 Clare Health Centre
• 8.3 Former Meteghan Dump Site
• 8.4 Scotia Recycling Ltd.
• 8.5 Rural Internet
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting
MOTION CARRIED
Motion to recommend surveying Placide Comeau Rd. from Route 1 towards the shoreline.
PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier
That Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend surveying the Placide Comeau Rd. from Route 1 towards the shoreline. Following completion of the survey, it is further recommended that the Municipality enter into a boundary line agreement with the abutting land owners so as to ensure the road does not encroach on their respective parcels.
MOTION CARRIED
9) Date and time of next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on April 5th, 2017 at 7:00 PM.
10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:54 PM
Submitted by
Alain Poirier,
Administrative Assistant of the CAO