Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

PRESENT: Council: Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Réanne Evans, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Anique Dugas, and Director of Finance, Christien Deveau
Presenters: Kat Kovalenko, Happipad Ambassador
ABSENT: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Councillors Danny Hill and Brian Comeau

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

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

• 7.5 Correspondence – Shane Robicheau, Ptit Robicheau Food Truck

MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted addition.
MOTION CARRIED

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None.

4) Presentations
4.1 Happipad – Kat Kovalenko, Happipad Ambassador
Kat Kovalenko presented an overview of Happipad, a non-profit organization that matches people with housing. (See attached)

At present, there is no lack of inquiries from individuals seeking housing options; the challenge is developing an inventory of hosts.

The CAO will forward Ms. Kovalenko the contact information for the Security for Seniors Coordinator.

5) Staff Reports  
5.1 Financial Update – Christien Deveau, Director of Finance
The Director of Finance provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position. (See attached)

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

7) NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Tender – Washroom Building, Joseph and Marie Dugas Park
A tender was issued for the construction of a new washroom building at the Joseph and Marie Dugas Park in Belliveau Cove. A total of six bids were received, ranging from $136,763 plus HST to $378,000 plus HST. It should be noted that the proposed washrooms are fully accessible and that a request for accessibility funding has been submitted to the Province of NS in an effort to offset the cost of construction. Following a review of the bids, it is the recommendation of the CAO that Council accept the proposal from Mid Valley Construction (1997) Ltd. in the amount of $136,763 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the tender for the new washroom building at the Joseph and Marie Dugas Park in Belliveau Cove to Mid Valley Construction (1997) Ltd. in the amount of $136,763 plus HST, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

7.2 Tender – Generator Building, Belliveau Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant
A tender was issued for the construction of a generator building at the Belliveau Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant. A total of three bids were received, ranging from $61,570 plus HST to $174,000 plus HST. Following a review of the bids, it is the recommendation of the CAO that Council accept the proposal from Garian Construction Ltd. in the amount of $61,570 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the tender for the generator building at the Belliveau Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant to Garian Construction Ltd. in the amount of $61,570 plus HST, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

7.3 New Road Name – Grass Lake Lane
Municipal staff received a request to name a road in Meteghan. Subsequently, letters were sent to the eight property owners along this road asking whether they approved of the name that had been put forward for consideration. Of the eight property owners, seven indicated they were in favour of the proposed name - Grass Lake Lane/ ruelle lac d’herbe. Whereas the proposed name meets the requirements of the Municipality’s Road Naming Policy, Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the road naming request for the road shared by the PIDs (Property Identification Number) listed below, as follows:

In English: Grass Lake Lane
In French: ruelle lac d’herbe

MOTION CARRIED

7.4 Committee Appointments
Councillor Nadine Comeau is no longer able to attend the monthly WasteCheck meetings (Tuesdays at 10:00 am) due to work commitments and is requesting to be removed from the committee and/or trade committees with another councillor. The CAO will email the current list of committee appointments in order to facilitate Councillor Comeau’s request.

7.5 Correspondence – Shane Robicheau, Ptit Robicheau Food Truck
The CAO read an email from Shane Robicheau, Ptit Robicheau Food Truck. (See attached)

In response to this email, Council passed the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend sending a letter to the Nova Scotia Department of Public Works requesting a safety review of the intersection of Highway 1 and Eustache Comeau Road, including the possibility of installing a flashing stop sign at the end of Eustache Comeau Road and a flashing yellow light on Highway 1.
MOTION CARRIED

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
Anique Dugas suggested that the proposed review of the Highway 1 / Eustache Comeau Road intersection should consider seasonal traffic flows, more specifically the increased traffic generated once the neighboring restaurants are open. Council agreed

9) Closed Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
9.1 Contract Negotiations
9.2 Personnel Matters

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend amending the 2021-2026 Garbage Collection Contract to include the standard 5% increase for the upcoming year, as well as the incremental cost for the proposed additions to the current routes, increasing the total amount for fiscal 2025-26 to $615,904.
MOTION CARRIED

9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on May 7, 2025, at 7:00 pm.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting at 8:43 pm.

Submitted by
Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant