Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS

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

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

The Warden read the following statement:

This evening, members of Council are wearing purple ribbons in support of Epilepsy Awareness Month. On Purple Day on March 26, people are encouraged to wear the colour purple to indicate their support for those with epilepsy and to increase public awareness of this disorder.

Special thanks to the Epilepsy Association of the Maritimes for providing service, support, and programming for those who live with epilepsy and their families.

2) Approval of the Agenda
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the proposed agenda be approved as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED          

3) Declaration of conflict of interest
Councillor Eric Pothier declared a conflict with item 12.4 Motion to Name a Road – Pothier Lane.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings 
5.1 February 17, 2021 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that the minutes of the February 17, 2021 Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 March 3, 2021 – Council in Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the minutes of the March 3, 2021 Council-in-Committee Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
6.1 Outdoor Artificial Rink – Communauté francophone accueillante de Clare
The rink concept was discussed at the Council-in-Committee Meeting on March 3, 2021. At that time, Council asked for a revised proposal that included options for larger rink sizes (pdfsee attached). Having now viewed the revised proposal, Council favoured the 40' x 80' option. IRCC has confirmed a contribution of $73,678 (50%) towards the cost of the rink, including panels, boards, a concrete pad, markings, netting and shipping. The CAO and staff are recommending the Municipality fund the remaining 50%. Council was fully supportive of this proposal and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute an amount equal to 50% of the total cost for the proposed purchase and installation of an outdoor artificial rink, as detailed below, up to a maximum of $70,647 plus applicable HST, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.

  • Rink panels, boards, markings, netting, and shipping – SmartRink Inc. - $102,444 plus HST
  • Concrete Pad – Spec Resources Inc. - $38,850 plus HST

MOTION CARRIED

6.2 Contract Extension – Iris Communications
In November of 2020, the Municipality of Clare partnered with ten other municipal units in South West Nova Scotia and hired Iris Communications to aid them in their efforts to respond to public safety and economic impact concerns stemming from the lobster fishery dispute. The contract was for three months, at a cost of $6,000 per month, and was divided amongst the eleven municipal units based on an agreed upon funding formula. With the original contract having now reached its end, the Mayors, Wardens, and CAOs of this working group are recommending it be extended for an additional three months. Both pricing and deliverables will remain as per the original contract. Council agreed and passed the following motion:

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare, as one of 11 municipal units in South West Nova Scotia mitigating the impacts to the region of the ongoing lobster dispute, accept the proposal submitted by IRIS Communications and Public Affairs to extend its current service agreement for communications and public affairs support and counsel by an additional 3 months, in the amount of $18,000 plus HST, of which the Municipality’s share is $2,655 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

7) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
The Warden provided a summary of the meetings and events he attended since the last Council meeting.

February 18 – Attended a virtual meeting of the Clare Digby Stakeholders Committee for an update on doctor recruitment in Digby County.

February 22 – Attended a virtual meeting of the CDÉNÉ Audit Committee.

February 22 – Attended a virtual meeting organized by the NSFM with Deputy Sean Fraser as part of a consultation for the federal budget.

February 26 – Attended an Advisory Committee meeting with SHS Consultants to develop a Housing Action Plan for the Municipality of Clare.

March 8 – Attended a virtual meeting for Waste Check.

March 9 – Attended a virtual round table meeting: Social inclusion of NS seniors - Seniors impact.

March 10 – Attended a meeting of Mayors and Wardens to discuss the crisis in the lobster fishing industry and more specifically, public safety.

March 12 – Attended an Advisory Committee meeting with SHS Consultants to develop a Housing Action Plan for the Municipality of Clare.

March 16 – Attended an Audit Committee meeting for the Municipality of Clare.

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Brian Comeau congratulated Nita-Josée Hanna on being cast as the main character in the 2020 horror movie Psycho Goreman. Councillor Comeau read the letter that Council agreed to send. (pdfSee attached)

Councillor Eric Pothier congratulated Kenneth Gaudet on receiving the Prix de reconnaissance du Conseil scolaire acadien provincial and requested a congratulatory letter be sent to Mr. Gaudet. Council agreed.

9) Correspondence
9.1 Angélique LeBlanc – chemin Second Division, Concession
The CAO read a letter from Angélique LeBlanc, a resident of Concession (pdfSee attached).

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal asking them to review the Second Division Road where the pavement ends in Concession as the road is in a state of disrepair.
MOTION CARRIED

9.2 Dr. Harold Cook and Paulette Sweeney-Goodwin – Yarmouth Hospital Foundation
The CAO read a letter from Dr. Harold Cook and Paulette Sweeney-Goodwin of the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation. (pdfSee attached)

10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of March 2021. (pdfSee attached)

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

February 2021

Year Permits Construction Value Year to Date
2020 6 $ 261,520 $ 573,880
2021 15 $ 31,254,600 $ 31,824,640

11.2 Waste Check – Councillor Carl Deveau
The Waste Check Committee met virtually on March 8, 2021. The distribution of flyers remains an issue and has been referred to the Municipality’s By-law Committee. Illegal dumping also remains problematic with the number of reported illegal dumpsites on the rise. Lastly, Waste Check has purchased $44,970 plus HST worth of new green bins to replenish its aging inventory and is reminding the public to please treat these bins with care so as to extend their useful life.

11.3 South West Nova Biosphere Reserve Association – Councillor Carl Deveau
The TVO documentary focusing on the South West Nova Biosphere has been completed and can be viewed on the Association’s website ( https://swnovabiosphere.ca/striking-a-balance-southwest-nova-biosphere-reserve-video/  ). Unfortunately, there is little to nothing on the Municipality of Clare or Baie Sainte-Marie.

The Interactive Science Atlas is live on the Association’s website ( https://swnovabiosphere.ca/your-biosphere/science-and-research/interactive-science-atlas/ ). This is a living project that will be continuously updated.

12)  New Business
12.1 Motion to Rescind a Previous Motion from December 18, 2019 – Clare Veterans Centre

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare rescind its motion from December 18, 2019, approving a contribution of $163,098 for the Clare Veterans Centre Project.
MOTION CARRIED

12.2 Motion to Approve Funding – Clare Veterans Centre

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve funding for the Clare Veterans Centre Project in the amount of $537,443 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve
MOTION CARRIED

12.3 Motion to Set the 2021-2022 Low-Income Property Tax Exemption

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare set the 2021-2022 low-income property tax exemption amount at $300 for households earning less than $22,000 per annum.
MOTION CARRIED

12.4 Motion to Name a Road – Pothier Lane

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve that the road shared by the PIDs (Property Identification Number) listed below be named as follows:

In English: Pothier Lane
In French: ruelle Pothier

30275119

30084180

30084172

MOTION CARRIED

12.5 Motion to Appoint Councillor – Police Advisory Board

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Councillor Brian Comeau to the Police Advisory Board.
MOTION CARRIED

12.6 Motion to Sell a Portion of a Lot – PID 30070056

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the offer put forward by Hector Boudreau to purchase a 1.5-acre portion of a 4.33-acre lot currently owned by the Municipality (PID 30070056) in exchange for $10,000 and the cancellation of an existing grant of easement.
MOTION CARRIED

13) In Camera Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to an In-Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics discussed:
13.1 Acquisition and Sale of Municipal Property
13.2 Personnel Matters

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

14) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on April 21, 2021 at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 pm.

Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant