Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 7:00 pm

PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet; Councillors, Hector Thibault, Carl Deveau, Danny Hill, Eric Pothier and Yvon LeBlanc
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Communications Officer, Amy Paradis, and Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks
Presenters: Vicki Savoie and Cassie Purcka

ABSENT: Councillor Brian Comeau

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

Warden LeBlanc read the following declaration:

Councillors for the Municipality of Clare are wearing purple ribbons in support of the Purple Ribbon Campaign. During the campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10, purple ribbons are worn to bring attention to the organizations working with women who are abused and to raise awareness of violence against women. Thank you to Juniper House in Yarmouth for calling attention to this important issue and for the essential services they offer to abused women and their children in the community.

2) (a) Approval of the Agenda
Warden LeBlanc asked if there were any items to be added to the agenda. None.

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

(b) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
Warden LeBlanc asked for any declarations of conflict of interest.
None declared

3) Presentations
3.1 Cermaq – Vicki Savoie and Cassie Purcka
Vicki Savoie and Cassie Purcka presented an overview of Cermaq’s farming practices and ongoing efforts to explore potential expansion opportunities into Nova Scotia. (pdfSee attached)

Warden LeBlanc thanked them for their presentation and inquired as to the proposed timelines for community consultations. Ms. Savoie explained that this presentation was simply an introduction to Cermaq and was in no way meant to replace the public consultation process. Public information sessions and/or consultations are scheduled in the new year so as to better accommodate the lobster fishing industry.

Councillor Carl Deveau asked if they had explored the waters on the other side of Digby Neck. Cermaq has investigated that possibility and determined that the waters on the Bay of Fundy side are too dynamic
for farming.

Cermaq has specific criteria they look for in a site. Saint Mary’s Bay was one of a select group of provincially approved locations from which the company can explore possible farming opportunities.

Residents seeking more information regarding Cermaq are invited to visit https://hellonovascotia.ca/

4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings

4.1 October 16, 2019 – Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the minutes of October 16, 2019 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

4.2 November 13, 2019 – Council-In-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the minutes of November 13, 2019 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

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

October 17 – Attended the meeting of the Nomination Committee for the Board of Governors of Université Sainte-Anne.

October 18 – Gave a presentation on the success of the Clare Health Centre at the AMANS Fall Conference in Digby.

October 18-20 – Attended the AGM for the FANE in Dartmouth.

October 21 – Attended a meeting of the Société Édifice Sainte-Marie de la Pointe.

October 24 – Attended a social gathering organized by the CDÉNÉ to celebrate businesses in Clare.

October 27 – Attended the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Clare Curling Club in Meteghan.

October 29 – Attended the WREN L&O meeting.

October 31 – Attended the Governance Committee meeting for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation.

November 1 – Attended the Board of Governors meeting for Université Sainte-Anne

November 5-8 – Attended the NSFM Fall Conference in Halifax.

November 11 – Attended the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Clare Veterans Centre

November 15 – Attended a strategic planning meeting for the CDÉNÉ in Halifax.

November 19 – Attended the AGM for the Festival acadien de Clare.

7) Official Statements from Members of Council

Councillor Carl Deveau thanked Warden LeBlanc for the honour of placing the wreath at the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Clare Veterans Centre.

Councillor Deveau also thanked Hector LeBlanc for his hard work cleaning up the nails and screws at the Wharf in Comeauville. Mr. LeBlanc’s efforts are greatly appreciated.

Deputy Warden Doucet thanked Willis Comeau for his hard work on the Rails to Trails Committee.
Mr. Comeau was one of the original committee members and is now retiring. Council agreed to send a letter to Mr. Comeau formally thanking him for his dedication to the ongoing development and stewardship of the trail.

Warden LeBlanc asked that a thank you letter be sent on behalf of Council to Mr. Colin Fraser for his service as the Member of Parliament for West Nova. Warden LeBlanc also requested a letter be sent to the Honourable Chris d’Entremont congratulating him on his recent election win and inviting him to meet with Council.

8) Correspondence
8.1 Letter – The Honourable Gordon Wilson, Minister of Environment
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Gordon Wilson, Minister of Environment. (pdfSee attached)

8.2 Letter – The Honourable Chuck Porter, Minister, Municipal Affairs and Housing
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Chuck Porter, Minister, Municipal Affairs and Housing. (pdfSee attached)

8.3 Letter – The Honourable Labi Kousoulis, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Labi Kousoulis, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. (pdfSee attached)

8.4 Letter – Janet Hazelton, President, Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union
The CAO read a letter from Janet Hazelton, President of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union. (pdfSee attached)

8.5 Letter – Claudette Thériault, Présidente, Comité organisateur du CMA 2019
The CAO read a letter from Claudette Thériault, Présidente du Comité organisateur du CMA 2019. (pdfSee attached)

8.6 Letter – Philip Doucet, President, Clare Shooting Association
The CAO read a letter from Philip Doucet, President of the Clare Shooting Association. (pdfSee attached)

9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of November 2019. (pdfSee attached)

10) Committee Reports
10.1 Building Permits Report – Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill read the building permits report for the month of October 2019.

October 2019
Year     Permits      Construction Value      Year to Date
2018     25               $ 2,002,192                    $ 9,959,199
2019     24               $ 746,750                       $ 7,461,004

11) New Business
11.1 Motion to Close the Richfield Fire Department

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Municipality of the District of Clare close the Richfield Fire Department and accept the revised service coverage areas for both the Havelock and Hectanooga Fire Departments.
MOTION CARRIED

11.2 Motion to Amend the Fire Truck Replacement Schedule

MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare amend the fire truck replacement schedule to move the Havelock Fire Department from the 11th position to the 5th position which was formerly held by the Richfield Fire Department.
MOTION CARRIED

11.3 Motion to Increase Operational Funding – Havelock Fire Department

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare increase the operational funding for the Havelock Fire Department by $1,000 to help offset the additional costs stemming from the larger coverage area, as a result of the closure of the Richfield Fire Department.
MOTION CARRIED

11.4 Motion to Increase Operational Funding – Hectanooga Fire Department

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Municipality of the District of Clare increase the operational funding for the Hectanooga Fire Department by $1,000 to help offset the additional costs stemming from the larger coverage area, as a result of the closure of the Richfield Fire Department.
MOTION CARRIED

11.5 Motion to Award a Grant – Meteghan Park Development Association

MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Municipality of the District of Clare award a grant in the amount of $3,500 to the Meteghan Park Development Association for repairs to the fence surrounding the park.
MOTION CARRIED

11.6 Motion to Send a Letter of Recognition – Daniel LeBlanc

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter of recognition to Daniel LeBlanc, the 2019 recipient of the Prix Grand-Pré Award.
MOTION CARRIED

11.7 Motion to Appoint Executive Members of the Organizing Committee of the CMA 2024
An Expression of Interest (EOI) was launched to appoint the Executive Members of the Organizing Committee for the CMA 2024. The EOI closed on October 25, 2019. Six submissions were received. Upon review of the candidate submissions, both the CAOs of Clare and Argyle are recommending the following appointments:

  • President – Allister Surette
  • Vice-President (Clare) – Natalie Robichaud
  • Vice-President (Argyle) – Chris Frotten
  • Treasurer – Nadine Comeau

MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint the following individuals to the Executive of the Organizing Committee of the Congrès Mondial Acadien 2024:
MOTION CARRIED

11.8 Motion to Register Municipal Trademark

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the Municipality of the District of Clare obtain trademark registration for the municipal logo.
MOTION CARRIED

11.9 Municipal Parking Lot – Maxwellton Road
The Municipality recently acquired a parking lot at the end of Maxwellton Road to allow for improved beach access. With the winter fast approaching, the Municipality would like to install a stone barrier to protect the parking lot against erosion. To this end, the CAO issued an invitational tender and spoke with three local companies. Only two of the three companies responded to the tender. The CAO spoke with both companies for clarification regarding their respective bids. During these discussions, one of the companies being considered withdrew their bid. The remaining bid was reviewed by the CAO and felt to have merit. This being the case, it is the recommendation of the CAO that Council award the tender to B & G Lombard Ltd. for an amount not to exceed $12,000 plus HST.

MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for the installation of a stone barrier to protect the municipal parking lot at Maxwellton Road against erosion to B & G Lombard Ltd. for an amount not to exceed $12,000 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Fund.
MOTION CARRIED

12) In Camera Session

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

Topics discussed:
12.1 Ecoparc

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

13) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on December 18, 2019 at 7:00 pm.

14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 pm.

Submitted by:

Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant