Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS

PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc; Deputy Warden Eric Pothier; Councillors, Nil Doucet, Danny Hill, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks
Presenters:
ABSENT: Councillor Philippe Gaudet

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

2)  Adoption of the Agenda

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the proposed agenda be approved as presented.
MOTION CARRIED          

3) Declaration of conflict of interest
The Warden declared a conflict of interest with item 14.1 Contract Negotiations.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 March 15, 2023 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the minutes of the March 15, 2023, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 April 12, 2023 – Council in Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the minutes of the April 12, 2023, Council in Committee Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None

7) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Yvon LeBlanc

March 21 – Attended a meeting of the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ) Audit Committee.

March 23 – Attended a meeting with the Transport de Clare and St. Bernard Fire Department to discuss the possibility of a lease agreement between the two organizations.

March 24 – Attended a regular meeting of the CDÉNÉ.           

March 27 – Attended a special meeting of the Board of Governors of Université Sainte-Anne.

April 2 – Attended the "Skate with the Easter Bunny" event at the Université Sainte-Anne arena.

April 5 – Attended a meeting of the Société Édifice Sainte-Marie de la Pointe.

April 5 – Attended a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Villa Acadienne.

April 14 – Attended a presentation by the Diocese of Yarmouth-Halifax on the future of St. Mary's Church. The meeting was held at the Saulnierville Parish Hall.

April 17 – Met with the Municipality's solicitor to sign an agreement with a local developer regarding deliverables for a new housing project.

April 17 – Attended the Municipality of Clare's Annual Volunteer Banquet. Mr. George "Ziggy" Comeau was named Volunteer of the Year.

April 19 – Attended the unveiling of the painting of Father Leger Comeau at the residence of the Honourable Arthur LeBlanc.

April 25 – Attended a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Villa Acadienne.

April 25 – Interviewed by CBC regarding the history and operations of the Clare Health Centre, as well as the expansion project currently underway.

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Brian Comeau congratulated Sophie LeBlanc of Saulnierville and Glenda Doucet Boudreau of Concession on receiving the Prix d’excellence du lieutenant-gouverneur pour l’Acadie et la francophonie de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Council will send them each a letter of congratulations.

Deputy Warden Eric Pothier (on behalf of Councillor Philippe Gaudet) stated that Mr. Arcade Comeau was inducted in the Nova Scotia Forestry Hall of Fame. Council will send a letter to Mr. Comeau’s family.

9) Correspondence
9.1 Mayor Ben Cleveland, Town of Digby
The CAO read a letter from Mayor Ben Cleveland, Town of Digby. (See attached)

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute $500 towards the NFSM Spring Conference in Digby.
MOTION CARRIED

9.2 The Honourable Tim Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Tim Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. (See attached)

9.3 The Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. (See attached)

9.4 Mr. Scott Farmer, Deputy Minister, Nova Scotia Economic Development
The CAO read a letter from Mr. Scott Farmer, Deputy Minister, Nova Scotia Economic Development. (See attached)

9.5 Marshal and Owen Dukeshire
The CAO read a letter from Marshal and Owen Dukeshire. (See attached)

The Municipality had requested three Level-3 EV Chargers as part of a larger federal funding request put forward by the WREN. Unfortunately, project funding was declined. A similar funding application was put forward by Nova Scotia Power. The Municipality is included in this application which if successful, would see a Level-3 EV Charger installed at the Clare Veterans Centre. Both municipal staff and Council have previously expressed interest in seeing two other Level-3 EV Chargers installed in the Municipality (Cape St. Mary Lighthouse Park and Joseph and Marie Dugas Park). To this end, staff continues to explore potential funding programs both at the federal and provincial level.

The CAO will reach out to Marshal and Owen Dukeshire.

10) Presentation of the 2023-24 Operational Budget and Corresponding Motions
10.1 Motion to Adopt Municipal Tax Rates
The CAO provided an overview of the 2023-2024 Operational Budget (See attached).

The budget is balanced at $11,637,866 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.

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare set the municipal tax rates for the Municipality of the District of Clare for 2023-2024 as follows:

• $1.04 per $100.00 of assessment as the Residential and Resource Tax Rate (the same rate since 2014), and
• $2.07 per $100.00 of assessment as the Commercial Tax Rate (the same rate since 2010)
• $0.25 per acre (below 50,000 acres) and $0.40 per acre (above 50,000 acres) as the Forest Acreage Rates.

MOTION CARRIED

10.2 Motion to Adopt Sewer Service Charges

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare set the municipal sewer service charges for 2023-2024 at $220.00 per unit for the following:

• Meteghan
• Meteghan Centre
• Meteghan River
• Church Point
• Belliveau Cove

MOTION CARRIED

10.3 Motion to Adopt Streetlight Area Rates

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare set the 2023-2024 rates for streetlights as follows:

• Highway 1 and Patrice Road – Church Point $ 57.51
• Highway 1 – Little Brook and Comeauville $ 35.32
• Highway 1 – Saulnierville $ 51.44
• Highway 1 – Meteghan River $ 54.32
• Placide Comeau Road – Meteghan River $ 68.59
• Highway 1 and Peter Dugas Road – Meteghan $ 35.23
• Highway 1 – Saint-Bernard and Belliveau Cove $ 34.99

MOTION CARRIED

10.4 Motion to Adopt Fire Department Rates

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare set the 2023-2024 Fire Department rates as follows:

• Fire Protection $0.05 per $100.00 of assessment
• Fire Truck Purchase $0.06 per $100.00 of assessment

MOTION CARRIED

10.5 Motion to Adopt Due Date and Interest Commencement Date

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare set the due date for payment of 2023-2024 municipal taxes as June 30, 2023, and the interest rate be 1½% per month, beginning on July 31, 2023.
MOTION CARRIED

10.6 Motion to Accept 2023-24 Municipal Operational Budget

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the 2023-2024 operational budget for the Municipality of the District of Clare as presented on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
MOTION CARRIED

11) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of April. (See attached)

12) Committee Reports
12.1 Building Permits Report – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permits report for the month of March.

March 2023

Year	Permits	Construction Value	Year to Date
2022	13	$ 1,400,640	$ 2,466,580
2023	23	$ 7,039,550	$ 8,232,990

12.2 Waste Check – Councillor Carl Deveau
No report this month.

13)  New Business
13.1 Motion to Accept Bid – 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:

MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept 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

13.2 Motion to Approve Sponsorship Request – 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:

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare sponsor the Yarmouth Rotary Ribfest’s Acadian Day in the amount of $2,500.
MOTION CARRIED

13.3 Letter of Support – La Société Vieille Maison Association
The CAO was approached by la Société Vieille Maison Association for a letter in support of their funding request to the Office of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie. More specifically, the funding request involves needed repairs to la Vielle Maison in preparation for the CMA 2024. Council was supportive of the request and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Brian Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to la Société Vieille Maison Association in support of their funding application to the Office of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie.
MOTION CARRIED

14) Closed Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council proceed to an In-Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
14.1 Contract Negotiations
14.2 Personnel Matters

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council for the Municipality of Clare contribute $250,000 (i.e., $50,000/year over 5 years) to Université Sainte-Anne, as part of the extensive renovation project planned for the Rendez-vous de la Baie, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

14) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau to adjourn the meeting at 9:15 pm.

Submitted by: 
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant