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

PRESENT: Council: 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
Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc called the Council meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

2) Approval of the Agenda
The Deputy Warden asked that the following item be added to the agenda:

• 13.1 Litigation

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

3) Declaration of conflict of interest
None declared.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 October 20, 2021 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the minutes of the October 20, 2021, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 November 3, 2021 – Council in Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the minutes of the November 3, 2021, Council in Committee Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

7) Deputy Warden’s Activity Report – Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc
October 26 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Villa acadienne.
October 28 – Attended the inauguration of Elaine Saulnier-Thimot and Glenda Doucet-Boudreau into the Compagnie des cents associés francophones. The ceremony was held in partnership with l’Association Madeleine LeBlanc and the Société Acadienne de Clare.
November 1 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Villa acadienne.
November 7 – Attended the “L’Acadie rencontre le Sénégale’’ event as part of the National Francophone Immigration Week.
November 8 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of Waste Check.
November 9 –Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Société Édifice Sainte-Marie de la Pointe.
November 10 – Attended a meeting with childcare stakeholders from the Clare region to discuss the challenges related to the existing infrastructure in our region.
November 11 – Attended the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Clare Veterans Centre.
November 12 – Attended a meeting with the group of 11 Mayors and Wardens, as well as MLAs Chris d’Entremont and Rick Perkins, to discuss the crisis in the lobster fishing industry.
November 12 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Villa acadienne.

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Brian Comeau congratulated Nadine and Scott Robicheau of la Cuisine Robicheau on winning Taste of Nova Scotia’s Server of the Year Award and requested a certificate of recognition be sent from the Municipality. Council agreed.  

Councillor Nil Doucet congratulated Hubert and Josephine Gaudet on their 60^th wedding anniversary, celebrated on November 4. A certificate has been sent.

9) Correspondence
9.1 The Honourable John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. (See attached)

9.2 Gilles Desautels
The CAO read a letter from Gilles Desautels. (See attached)

As this letter was sent to the Minister, Council will wait for a response before taking any action. This request will also be raised at the upcoming meeting with representatives from Nova Scotia Public Works in December 2021.

9.3 Donna Gaudet
The CAO read a letter from Donna Gaudet. (See attached)

The issue currently at play at Mavillette Beach involves both federal and provincial jurisdictions. The Municipality has no authority in this matter. This notwithstanding, the Municipality will continue to monitor the situation and advocate when and where appropriate.

10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of November 2021. (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 October.

October 2021

12)  New Business
12.1 Motion to Amend By-law No. 25 – A By-law Respecting Building, Second and Final Reading
The CAO presented a proposed amendment to the Building By-Law for second and final reading. The proposed amendment, which provides clarity to the existing by-law and increases the Municipality’s competitiveness in terms of permit pricing, passed first reading on October 20, 2021. It has been vetted by both the Municipality’s solicitor and its buildings officials, as well as the By-law Committee. The CAO has received no comments from the public opposing the proposed amendment. Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare read By-Law No. 25, Amendment No. 25-02-2021, a By-Law respecting Building, and that the By-Law be read for the second and final time by title only.
MOTION CARRIED

Councillor Brian Comeau read the following:  BY-LAW NO. 25. A BY-LAW RESPECTING BUILDING

12.2 Motion to Accept Proposal – Geotechnical Surveys – Viewing Platforms
The request for proposals for the geotechnical surveys was issued as part of the Tourism Public Spaces Project. It closed on October 22, 2021. A total of four bids were received. Following a review of the bids, both the CAO and Tourism Manager are recommending Council accept the proposal from Harbourside Geotechnical Consultants Ltd., in the amount of $8,980 plus HST. Council made 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 accept the proposal from Harbourside Geotechnical Consultants Ltd. for the Geotechnical Surveys – Viewing Platforms in the amount of $8,980 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

12.3 Motion to Accept Proposal – Parc Joseph-et-Marie Dugas and Major’s Point
The request for proposals for the Parc Joseph et Marie Dugas and Major’s Point was also issued as part of the Tourism Public Spaces Project. It closed on October 29, 2021. A total of three bids were received. Following a review of the bids, both the CAO and Tourism Manager are recommending Council accept the proposal from Jost + Architects Ltd., in the amount of $143,500 plus HST, conditional upon confirmation of balance of funding. Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposal from Jost + Architects Ltd. for the detailed design of the Parc Joseph-et-Marie Dugas and Major’s Point in the amount of $143,500 plus HST, conditional upon confirmation of balance of funding.
MOTION CARRIED

12.4 Motion to Send a Letter of Support – Association Sentier Clare Rail to Trail Association
As part of their funding application to the OHV Infrastructure Fund, the Association Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association is asking for a letter of support from the Municipality. If successful, funds will be utilised for trail maintenance, specifically re-surfacing, grading and brush cutting. The Association routinely applies to this fund for financial assistance and has previously received letters of support from Council as part of this application process. Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association in support of their funding request to the OHV Infrastructure Fund.         
MOTION CARRIED

12.5 Motion to Appoint By-Law Enforcement Officer – Jade Bloom
With the recent hiring of Jade Bloom, the CAO is requesting that a motion be made formally appointing Mrs. Bloom as the new By-Law Enforcement Officer. Council passed the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Jade Bloom as the new By-Law Enforcement Officer for the Municipality of Clare.
MOTION CARRIED

12.6 Motion to Apply for Appointment of Special Constable – Jade Bloom
In order to allow Jade Bloom to enforce municipal by-laws, she must first be appointed by Council as a Special Constable under the Nova Scotia Police Act. The CAO is therefore requesting such a motion be made. Council agreed and 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 make an application to the Department of Justice for the appointment of Jade Bloom as Special Constable under the Nova Scotia Police Act for the Enforcement of Legislation and/or Municipal By-Laws.
MOTION CARRIED

13) In Camera Session

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

Topics Discussed:
13.1 Litigation

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill 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 December 15, 2021, 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