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Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS

PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier; Councillors Réanne Evans, Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, Steven Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, and Communications Officer, Anique Dugas
Presenters:
ABSENT:

1) Call to Order
The Warden called the Council meeting to order at 7:09 pm.

2)  Adoption of the Agenda
The CAO asked for the following changes be made to the agenda:

• Change 5.3 to 5.2 on the English version of the agenda
• Remove 12.5 Motion to Enter Inter-Municipal Agreement – Western Regional Enterprise Network (WREN)
• Add 12.5 Motion to Apply – Water Distribution Program, Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management

Councillor Réanne Evans asked that the following item be added to the agenda:

• 11.1 Western Counties Regional Library

MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted revisions.
MOTION CARRIED          

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
The Warden declared a conflict of interest with item 12.5 Motion to Apply – Water Distribution Program, Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 September 17, 2025 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the minutes of the September 17, 2025, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 October 8, 2025 – Council-In-Committee Meeting
Councillor Nadine Comeau asked the minutes of October 8, 2025, be corrected to show that both she and Councillor Carl Deveau were not present.

MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the minutes of the October 8, 2025, Council-in-Committee Meeting be accepted with the above-noted correction.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

7) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Yvon LeBlanc  

September 19 – Attended a training session on governance for the Board of Governors of Université Sainte-Anne.

September 19 – Attended a reception in honor of Noël Després, outgoing Chancelor of Université Sainte-Anne.

September 20 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Governors of Université Sainte-Anne.

October 4 – Attended the announcement of the special election results for District 5. Congratulations once again to Councillor Steven Comeau and thank you to Gary LeBlanc and Susan Comeau for running in this election.

October 11 – Attended the opening of the Baie Sainte-Marie Community Center.

Conducted three interviews during the month of October:

• Two interviews with CIFA
• One interview with Radio-Canada

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
None.

9) Correspondence
9.1 Carine Tiller – Manager, Ministerial and Executive Correspondence
The CAO read a letter from Carine Tiller, Manager, Ministerial and Executive Correspondence. (See attached)

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

11) Committee Reports
11.1 Western Counties Regional Library – Councillor Réanne Evans
The committee met on September 25, 2025. The main point of discussion was library funding. Libraries in Nova Scotia have seen no increase in funding since 2020.  The ongoing funding review is set for completion in November 2025. In July 2025, the Province of NS provided incremental funding to libraries so as to avoid any service interruptions.

12)  New Business
12.1 Motion to Approve Funding – Société acadienne de Clare
The Société acadienne de Clare (with the permission of Université Sainte-Anne) is spearheading a project to modernize the currently under-utilized theatre (i.e., Salle Marc-Lescarbot) on the university’s Church Point campus. Total project costs are estimated at $700,000 and discussions with prospective project funders (PCH, ACOA, Province of NS) have been very positive to date. That said, as part of the proposed funding mix, the Société acadienne de Clare must raise 10% of the total project cost (i.e., $70,000). To this end, the Société is respectfully requesting these funds be sourced from the surplus funds given to the Municipality from the CMA 2024. These funds are expressly earmarked for legacy projects stemming from the CMA 2024. The proposed theatre modernization is consistent with that criterion. In an effort to better this valued piece of cultural infrastructure, the CAO is recommending the proposed contribution of $70,000. Council agreed and made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute the $70,000 surplus funds from the CMA 2024 to the Société acadienne de Clare in support of their project to modernize the Salle Marc-Lescarbot located on the Church Point campus of Université Sainte-Anne, and that these funds be conditional upon confirmation of the balance of project funding.
MOTION CARRIED 

12.2 Motion to Send Letter – Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc
The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc has been named as the new Chancelor for Université Sainte-Anne. Mr. LeBlanc succeeds Mr. Noël Després, who had been in the position since 2019. In recognition of this prestigious appointment, the CAO is recommending Council send a congratulatory letter to

Mr. LeBlanc. Council agreed and made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter of congratulations to the Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc in recognition of his appointment as Chancellor for Université Sainte-Anne.|
MOTION CARRIED 

12.3 Motion to Enter Inter-Municipal Emergency Services Agreement – Digby County REMO
The Province of Nova Scotia is directing all Municipalities to join or establish a Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO). The Municipality of Clare currently has its own Emergency Management Organization (EMO) but is not part of a larger REMO. That being said, the CAO has reached out to the Municipality and the Town of Digby to discuss the possibility of joining their REMO, in the hopes of establishing a true Digby County response. A meeting has since been held with all three CAOs and Digby`s Regional Emergency Management Coordinator, Bruce Snell, to further advance this new partnership. A preliminary plan has been put forward highlighting needed steps and key milestones, including the signature of an inter-municipal emergency services agreement. The said inter-municipal emergency services agreement has since been drafted and recommended for signature by the participating CAOs. Following a thorough review of the agreement, Council made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare enter into an inter-municipal emergency services agreement with the Municipality of the District of Digby and the Town of Digby, to establish a Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO) for all of Digby County.  
MOTION CARRIED 

12.4 Motion to Send Letter of Support – Far Out Festival
The Far-Out Festival is requesting a letter of support from Council as part of their application to Canadian Heritage. No funds are being requested from the Municipality. Over the years, the Municipality has provided similar letters to the Far-Out Festival, in support of their efforts to secure financing. Council made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter of support to the Far Out Festival, as part of their funding application to Canadian Heritage.
MOTION CARRIED 

12.5 Motion to Apply – Water Distribution Program – Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management
Warden LeBlanc recused himself. Deputy Warden chaired this portion of meeting.

In response to a growing number of calls from concerned residents needing access to potable water, and following discussions with the MLA`s office, the Municipality is exploring the possibility of establishing a water voucher program in conjunction with the Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management. To this end, the CAO has reviewed all relevant documentation and completed the necessary forms. Per established program guidelines, the maximum allowable distribution is 4L of bottled water per family member, per day (maximum of 16L per household per day). As for the distribution method, the CAO is proposing the use of a voucher system redeemable at local retailers. In addition to providing increased access to bottled water, the proposed program structure also seeks to ensure consistency and accountability in distribution and cost reporting. Council expressed unanimous support for such a program and made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare apply to the Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management for assistance to implement a water voucher program to provide bottled water to residents during a declared water shortage.
MOTION CARRIED 

13) Closed Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council proceed to the Closed Session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics discussed
13.1 Personnel Matters

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau 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 Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 pm.

Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant