Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, January 18, 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, Philippe Gaudet, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Amy Paradis
Presenters: Adrien Comeau and Nicole Pothier

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

2)  Adoption of the Agenda
The CAO requested that the following item me be added to the agenda:

• 12.4 Letter to Nova Scotia Public Works

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

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
None declared.

4) Presentations
4.1 La Société la Vieille Maison – Adrien Comeau and Nicole Pothier  
Adrien Comeau and Nicole Pothier of La Société la Veille Maison thanked Council for the opportunity to present the following video (https://youtu.be/on0OR9oM82I).

La Vielle Maison in Meteghan is the best-preserved example of a post-exile Acadian dwelling in Canada. It is currently a finalist in the Next Great Save competition where if successful, the Société will win $50,000 to use towards period conscious repairs. As the only francophone group and only group from Nova Scotia in the competition, the Société is asking for Council’s support in promoting its bid and encouraging residents to vote daily until the end of the competition. The competition runs from January 20, 2023, to February 20, 2023.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 December 21, 2022 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the minutes of the December 21, 2022, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 January 4, 2023 – Council in Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the minutes of the January 4, 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

November 20 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Villa Acadienne.
November 24 – Attended the lighting ceremony for the “trap tree” in Belliveau Cove.
November 25 – Attended a meeting with provincial officials to discuss housing needs in the Municipality.
December 1 – Attended a tour of the new Villa Acadienne. Work is progressing well. The opening is scheduled for May 2023.
December 3 – Attended the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at the Clare Veterans Center.
December 4 – Attended the first Walk of Light in memory of Joey Saulnier. The walk took place in the P'tit bois.
December 5 – Attended a public consultation session in Digby on the state of the health care system in Nova Scotia.
December 11 – Attended the annual Skate with Santa Claus, organized by the Municipality.
December 14 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ).
December 28 - Attended the annual Christmas dinner with medical students and the doctors of the Clare Health Centre.
January 17 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Villa Acadienne.

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
None.

9) Correspondence
9.1 Shelley Bent James – Executive Director, Service Delivery, Nova Scotia Department of Community Services
The CAO read a letter from Shelley Bent James, Executive Director of Service Delivery for the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services. (See attached)

Councils concerns regarding current service levels were not appeased by this response. Councillor Brian Comeau recommended Council once again express its concerns with the current, “by appointment” service model and reiterate the need for consistent, in-person, French-language community services in our Francophone and Acadian community. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to Shelley Bent James, Executive Director of Service Delivery for the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services expressing its concerns with the current, “by appointment” service model and reiterating the need for consistent, in-person, French-language community services within the Municipality of Clare.
MOTION CARRIED

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

11) Committee Reports
11.1 Building Permits Report – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permits report for the month of December.

December 2022

11.2 Waste Check – Councillor Carl Deveau
Councillor Deveau presented the Waste Check Report.

The Waste Check Board met on January 10, 2023. The cost of repairing and replacing green carts was once again discussed. The sharing of green carts amongst neighbors was discussed as a possible means of reducing these costs.

Black garbage bags will slowly be removed from curbside collection. The public will be informed well before this change is implemented and given sufficient time to adjust.

Another purchase of 810 green bins was made. This purchase price for these bins was approximately $67,000. Councillor Nil Doucet pointed out that bins are often broken by the hauler during collection. Councillor Deveau agreed and confirmed that Waste Check is aware of this issue and has reached out to the various haulers in District 7.

12)  New Business
12.1 Motion to Name Municipal Facility – 795 Highway 1, Comeauville, NS
The Municipality received a request from both l’Association Madeleine LeBlanc and la Baie en Joie requesting to name the building located at 795 Highway 1, Comeauville, which currently houses the Cultural Hub. Both applications had merit and were deemed compliant with the Municipality’s Naming of Public Lands and Municipal-Owned Facilities Policy. Following a thorough review of the requests and some discussion on the issue, Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the request put forward by l’Association Madeleine LeBlanc to name the municipally owned building located at 795 Highway 1, Comeauville, l’Édifice Madeleine LeBlanc.
MOTION CARRIED
Councillor Carl Deveau voted against the motion.

12.2 Motion to Accept Proposal – Project Management Services – Clare Veterans Centre
The Municipality issued a tender for project management services for the proposed revitalization of the Clare Veterans Centre. The tender closed on January 16, 2023. A total of 5 bids were received. Following a detailed review of the bids by both the CAO and the Director of Community Development, it was recommended that Council accept the proposal from Grey Cardinal Management Inc., in the amount of $103,404 plus HST. It was further noted by the CAO that although not the low bid, the proposal from Grey Cardinal Management Inc. was deemed to be the best value given, among other things, the recommended methodology, familiarity with the community and local trades, and the proposed timeline for completion. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposal from Grey Cardinal Management Inc., in the amount of $103,404 plus HST, for project management services during the proposed revitalization of the Clare Veterans Centre.
MOTION CARRIED

12.3 Motion to Approve Funding Contribution – Clare Columbus Club
The Clare Columbus Club is applying to the Community Facility Improvement Program (administered by the NS Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage) for needed renovations to their hall. The total estimated cost of the project is $35,000 and includes (among other things) a new metal roof, the resurfacing of two staircases, the purchase of a generator, etc. As per program guidelines, the Clare Columbus Club is requesting 75% or $26,550 from the provincial program and is investing the required 10% applicant contribution ($3,500). For the remaining 15% (or $5,250), the Clare Columbus Club is seeking a municipal contribution.

The Club has been working in collaboration with municipal staff on this project application which if successful, will achieve excellent leveraging of municipal dollars. Council was very much in favor of this approach and passed the following motion: 

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare make a contribution of 15%, up to a maximum of $5,250, towards the Clare Columbus Club’s 2023 hall renovation project and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s 2023-24 Grants to Organizations budget.
MOTION CARRIED

12.4 Letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works
Deputy Warden Eric Pothier noted that the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works has not cleared the curbside/shoulder of sand and gravel as was done in previous years and is requesting a letter be sent to the Department asking them to remedy the issue. Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works requesting the curbside/shoulder be cleared of sand and gravel.
MOTION CARRIED

13) 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:
13.1 Personnel Matters

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill 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 amend the Municipality’s Salary Administration Policy to limit the annual cost of living adjustments to the lesser of the provincial average for the year in question or 3%.
MOTION CARRIED

14) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 pm.

Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant