Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting held virtually via Teams

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.

2) Approval of the Agenda

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

3) Declaration of conflict of interest
Councillor Carl Deveau and Warden Ronnie LeBlanc declared a conflict of interest with item 12.5 - Motion to Approve leave of Absence for Councillors.
Councillor Eric Pothier declared a conflict of interest with item 12.4 - Motion to Approve Funding – École secondaire de Clare.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings

5.1 April 21, 2021 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the minutes of the April 21, 2021, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 May 5, 2021 – Council in Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the minutes of the May 5, 2021, Council in Committee Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

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.
April 22 – Attended a virtual meeting of the Board of Directors of Université Sainte-Anne.
April 28 – Attended a virtual meeting of the Board of Directors of Université Sainte-Anne.
April 29 – Attended a virtual meeting of the Mayors and Wardens to discuss the crisis in the lobster fishing industry.
May 14 – Attended a virtual meeting of the Board of Governors of Université Sainte-Anne.
May 14 – Attended a virtual meeting of the Mayors and Wardens to discuss public security with the RCMP and DFO, as it relates to the dispute in the lobster fishing industry.

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
None.

9) Correspondence
9.1 The Honourable Brendan Maguire, Minister of Municipal Affairs
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Brendan Maguire, Minister of Municipal Affairs (See attached).

9.2 Dr. David MacLean, Executive Director, Public Safety and Security Division, NS Department of Justice
The CAO read a letter from Dr. David MacLean, Executive Director of the Public Safety and Security Division for the NS Department of Justice (See attached).

9.3 Carolyn Sloan, Executive Director, Inclusion Clare
The CAO read a letter from Carolyn Sloan, Executive Director of Inclusion Clare (See attached).

9.4 Murielle Comeau Péloquin, Secretary, Société historique acadienne de la Baie Sainte-Marie
The CAO read a letter from Murielle Comeau Péloquin, Secretary for the Société historique acadienne de la Baie Sainte-Marie (See attached).

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

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

April 2021

12)  New Business
12.1 Motion to Rescind a Previous Motion from April 21, 2021 – Fire Truck Purchase for the Little Brook Fire Department
Following the Council meeting of April 21, 2021, the CAO was notified by the LBFD that they committed an error in the pricing of the truck. More specifically, the quote they provided was from December 9, 2020. This was provided in error. The correct quote is dated December 21, 2020. This error represents an increase of $10,048 (including the non-rebated portion of the HST) to the approved municipal contribution of $512,112, bringing the total to $522,160. This unfortunate error notwithstanding, the merits of LBFD’s proposal have not changed and it is still very much in the Municipality’s interest to proceed as planned.

To correct this error, the previous motion from April 21, 2021, must be rescinded, and a new motion approving the purchase of the fire truck must be made. 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 rescind its motion from April 21, 2021, approving the purchase of a new fire truck for the Little Brook Fire Department in the amount of $476,383 plus the non-rebated portion of the HST, for a total cost of $512,112.
MOTION CARRIED

12.2 Motion to Approve Purchase – Fire Truck for the Little Brook Fire Department
As previously explained in item 12.1, Council made the following motion to approve the purchase of a new fire truck for the LBFD:

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the purchase of a new fire truck for the Little Brook Fire Department in the amount of $485,730 plus the non-rebated portion of the HST, for a total cost of $522,160.
MOTION CARRIED

12.3 Motion to Approve the 2021-2022 Capital Budget
The CAO provided an overview of the proposed 2021-2022 Capital Budget. This same budget was discussed at length during the May 5, 2021, Council-in-Committee meeting. Council was pleased with the budget and made the following motion: 

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the 2021-2022 Capital Budget for the Municipality of the District of Clare as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

12.4 Motion to Approve Funding – École secondaire de Clare
Ecole secondaire de Clare is planning a series of repairs and improvements to its outdoor basketball court, volleyball court and tennis courts. As part of this effort, they are seeking funding from the Municipality in the amount of $8,280 to assist with the purchase and installation of new fencing. Although on school grounds, the aforementioned facilities will be available to the broader community, outside of school hours. Given the benefits that will accrue from this project, Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the funding request from École secondaire de Clare in the amount of $8,280 for the purchase and installation of fencing around their outdoor tennis courts and that these funds be taken for the Municipality’s Operating Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

12.5 Motion to Approve leave of Absence for Councillors
Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc chaired this section of the meeting.

Two members of Council, Warden Ronnie LeBlanc and Councillor Carl Deveau, are running in the next provincial election. Since the date of said election remains unknown, the CAO is recommending Council grant a leave of absence to both Councillors, effectively immediately after the writ is dropped. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a leave of absence for Warden Ronnie LeBlanc and Councillor Carl Deveau, both of whom are running in the upcoming provincial election, and that this leave commence immediately following the dropping of the writ, marking the start of the election.
MOTION CARRIED

12.6 Motion to Award Tender – Lighthouse Repairs, Belliveau Cove
Warden LeBlanc resumed chairing the meeting.

An invitational tender for needed repairs to the Belliveau Cove Lighthouse was issued. The tender closed on May 10, 2021. Two bids were received. Both were deemed complete. Upon review of the bids, it is the recommendation of the CAO and staff that the tender for lighthouse repairs in Belliveau Cove be awarded to Intuitive Carpentry Inc. in the amount of $6,130 plus HST. The Municipality will be reimbursed the cost of these repairs by its insurance provider, as part of the claim for the Belliveau Cove Breakwater. Council passed the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for lighthouse repairs in Belliveau Cove to Intuitive Carpentry Inc. in the amount of $6,130 plus HST, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
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 Contract Negotiations

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden 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 June 16, 2021, at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 pm.

Submitted by: 
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant