Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 7:00 pm

PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet; Councillors, Hector Thibault, Carl Deveau, Danny Hill, Brian Comeau, Eric Pothier and Yvon LeBlanc
Staff: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Communications Officer, Amy Paradis, and Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks
Presenters: Nadine Lauren – YREACH Settlement Services

ABSENT:

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

2) (a) Approval of the Agenda
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc asked that the following item be added to the Agenda:

• 10.2 Western Libraries Update

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

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

3) Presentations
3.1 YREACH Settlement Services – Nadine Lauren
Ms. Lauren joined YREACH in September and wanted to introduce herself to Council and give an overview of the services available through YREACH. (See attached)

Councillor Carl Deveau thanked Ms. Lauren for her presentation and expressed confidence that her presence will have a positive impact in the community.

Warden Ronnie LeBlanc asked for clarification on the area that Ms. Lauren covers as in the past the area was quite large. Ms. Lauren will be covering Digby and Clare with an emphasis in Clare as the demand for the services has grown substantially.

The CAO will forward Ms. Laurens’s contact information to the Municipal Recreation Manager, Réanne Titus, as there may be opportunities for collaboration.

4)Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings

4.1 September 18, 2019 – Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the minutes of September 18, 2019 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

4.2 October 2, 2019 – Council-In-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the minutes of October 2, 2019 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED

5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

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

September 24 – Attended a Board of Directors meeting in Yarmouth for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation.

September 27 – Attended a meeting with the Mayors and Wardens of Digby and Annapolis County to discuss the financial situation of Upper Clements Parks in Upper Clements.

September 30 – Attended a Doctor Recruitment Committee meeting in Weymouth.

October 3 – Participated in a live interview for CBC Télé-journal to discuss the success of the Clare Health Centre and the Municipality’s doctor recruitment efforts.

October 5 – Attended a reception as part of the French-language Media Conference at Université Sainte-Anne.

October 8 – Attended a meeting with Develop NS in Halifax to discuss the Rural Internet Project.

October 9 – Attended a telephone meeting with M. Charles Nichol, the Administrator for the Town of Rezé, France, to continue the discussion regarding a potential twinning with Clare. The Town of Rezé is interested in sending a delegation to Clare before the end of the year.

October 15 – Attended a Board of Directors meeting for the Harbourside Lodge in Yarmouth.

October 16 – Attended a telephone meeting for the Board of Directors of Université Sainte-Anne.

7) Official Statements from Members of Council

Councillor Brian Comeau congratulated Lucy and Bobby Thibault on their 56th wedding anniversary, celebrated on September 28, 2019. A certificate has been sent. Councillor Brian Comeau also congratulated Lucien and Shelly Thibault on their 25th wedding anniversary, celebrated on October 14, 2019, and asked that a congratulatory certificate be sent.

Councillor Carl Deveau congratulated Clara and Eddie Melanson on their 50th wedding anniversary, celebrated on October 18, 2019, and asked that a congratulatory certificate be sent.

8) Correspondence
8.1 Letter – Paulette Sweeney-Goodwin, Managing Director, Yarmouth Hospital Foundation
The CAO read a letter from Paulette Sweeney-Goodwin, Managing Director for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation. (See attached)

8.2 Letter – Miranda Ashmead, Candy Cane Lane Festival
The CAO read a letter from Miranda Ashmead of the Candy Cane Lane Festival. (See attached)

After much discussion, Council decided not to entertain the request at this time. Rather, it was Council’s preference that the Candy Cane Lane Festival apply through Grants to Organizations in the new year and in doing so, follow the same process as other groups seeking municipal funding.

8.3 Letter – The Honourable Leo Glavine, Minister, Communities, Culture and Heritage
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Leo Glavine, Minister, Communities, Culture and Heritage. (See attached)

8.4 Letter – Wayne Hamilton, Executive Director, Communities, Culture and Heritage, African Nova Scotian Affairs
The CAO read a letter from Wayne Hamilton, Executive Director, Communities, Culture and Heritage, African Nova Scotian Affairs. (See attached)

8.5 Letter – Brennan Goreham, Director, Atlantic Fisheries Fund, Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
The CAO read a letter from Brennan Goreham, Director, Atlantic Fisheries Fund, Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. (See attached)

Warden LeBlanc suggested Mr. Goreham be invited to present to Council. There are several fishermen in Clare currently participating in this program. Additional information regarding the terms and conditions of the programs would be beneficial to both Council and industry.

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

Councillor Carl Deveau asked for clarification on the Accessibility Committee. The CAO explained that they are still waiting for more direction from the Province but that a transparent process to select committee members would to be followed to ensure both Council and community representation as well as a diversity of membership.

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

September 2019
Year     Permits     Construction Value       Year to Date
2018     22             $ 2,128,300                      $ 7,957,007
2019     14             $ 554,180                         $ 6,492,654

10.2 Western Library Report
Councillor Carl Deveau provided an overview of the libraries in our region, many of which are suffering from budget cuts at the provincial level. Councillor Deveau also provided the following statistics for the Meteghan Library from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019:

Members with cards – 966
People that participated in programs – 2,447
Visitors – 10,922
Books borrowed – 11,634
Youth reading club registrations – 135
Computer visitors – 2,311
Wireless connections – 2,059
Room rentals – 412

The library in Meteghan is well used and serves the community well. Nevertheless, efforts continue to further promote the library and get more people interested in the services offered. To this end, libraries across the province are currently working on a program that would allow people with a library card to borrow from any library without needing another card for that region.

11) New Business
11.1 Motion to Add Luke Boudreau Road to the Beach Access Project

Luke Boudreau Road is used by many residents and university students to access the beach and was previously thought to have been included as part of the Municipality’s Beach Access Project. Unfortunately, it now appears to have been excluded in error. Councillor Thibault would like to see the road formally added as part of the project.

PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare add Luke Boudreau Road to the Beach Access Project.
MOTION CARRIED

Councillor Brian Comeau asked if the Planning Advisory Committee would be responsible for this addition. The CAO suggested that while the original project was developed with the Planning Advisory Committee, this particular addition could be approved by Council. Warden LeBlanc expressed an interest in receiving an update on the status of the Beach Access Project.

11.2 Motion to Award Tender – Re-shingling of the Roof at 8423 Highway 1, Meteghan
This project was included in the Capital Budget. Three bids were received for this tender. All bids were within budget. The CAO is recommending the tender be awarded to Jedco Construction Ltd. in the amount of $2,900 plus HST.

PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender to re-shingle the roof at 8423 Highway 1, Meteghan, to Jedco Construction Ltd. in the amount of $2,900 plus HST and that this amount be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Fund.
MOTION CARRIED

11.3 Motion to Support a Request – Upper Clements Parks Society

Upper Clements Parks (UPS) provides employment to approximately 250 people each summer. Originally owned and operated by the Province of NS, UPS is now owned by the Upper Clements Parks Society, which is working hard to keep the parks operational. Despite the Society’s efforts, the financial situation of the parks is dire and without additional funding, they may be forced to close.

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare support the request of the Upper Clements Parks Society to have Warden LeBlanc, along with the other Mayors and Wardens in Digby and Annapolis counties, meet with the Premier of Nova Scotia, the Honourable Stephen McNeil, to discuss the Parks’ current financial situation and operational requirements moving forward.
MOTION CARRIED

11.4 Motion to Relocate Playground Equipment – Former Saint-Albert Elementary School

PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare use the $15,000 non-refundable deposit from the sale of the former Saint Albert Elementary School to relocate the playground equipment from said school to the Meteghan Family Park.
MOTION CARRIED

11.5 Letter of Support – Major Road to Margo Road
The Municipality was approached by residents who want to change the name of Major Road (a provincial road) to Margo Road. Although this is a provincial process, the proposed name change requires the approval of Council.

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare support the proposed road name change from Major Road to Margo Road.
MOTION CARRIED

11.6 Letter of Support – Doucette Point Road to Major Point Road
The Municipality was approached by residents who want to change the name of Doucette Point Road (a provincial road) to Major Point Road. Although this is a provincial process, the proposed name change requires the approval of Council.

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare support the proposed road name change from Doucette Point Road to Major Point Road.
MOTION CARRIED

Deputy Warden Nil Doucet highlighted that two of the people from the group requesting both the aforementioned name changes were in attendance and commended them on their efforts to get these names changed.

12) In Camera Session

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

Topics discussed:
12.1 Rural Internet
12.2 Human Resources

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil 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 November 20, 2019 at 7:00 pm.

14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m.

Submitted by:

Ashley Hanks