Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

PRESENT: Council: Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Nil Doucet, Danny Hill, Philippe Gaudet, Brian Comeau, Carl Deveau and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff, Executive Assistant, Nicole Comeau, and Communications Officer, Amy Paradis
Presenters: None

ABSENT: Warden Yvon LeBlanc


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 items be added to the agenda:

  • Under New Business, Item 7.2 - Clare Columbus Club
  • Under New Business, Item 7.3 - Annual Conference FCM 2023
  • In Closed Session, Item 9.1 - Personnel Matters

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted additions.
MOTION CARRIED

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None declared.

4) Presentations
None

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

6) Business arising from Previous Meetings
None

7) New Business
7.1 Naming of Municipal Facility – Cultural Hub
The Municipality received a request from both l’Association Madeleine LeBlanc and la Baie en Joie requesting to name the building located at 795 Highway 1, Comeauville, which currently houses the Cultural Hub. Both applications had merit and were deemed compliant with the Municipality’s Naming of Public Lands and Municipal-Owned Facilities Policy. Following a thorough review of the requests and some discussion on the issue, Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend accepting the request put forward by l’Association Madeleine LeBlanc to name the municipally owned building located at 795 Highway 1, Comeauville, l’Édifice Madeleine LeBlanc.
MOTION CARRIED

7.2 Clare Columbus Club - Renovations
The Clare Columbus Club is applying to the Community Facility Improvement Program (administered by the NS Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage) for needed renovations to their hall. The total estimated cost of the project is $35,000 and includes (among other things) a new metal roof, the resurfacing of two staircases, the purchase of a generator, etc. As per program guidelines, the Clare Columbus Club is requesting 75% or $26,550 from the provincial program and is investing the required 10% applicant contribution ($3,500). For the remaining 15% (or $5,250), the Clare Columbus Club is seeking a municipal contribution.

The Club has been working in collaboration with municipal staff of this project application which if successful, will achieve excellent leveraging of municipal dollars. Council was very much in favor of this approach and passed the following motion to recommend: 

PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend making a contribution of 15%, up to a maximum of $5,250, towards the Clare Columbus Club’s 2023 hall renovation project and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s 2023-24 Grants to Organizations budget.
MOTION CARRIED

7.3 Annual Conference FCM 2023
The 2023 Annual Conference for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) will be held from May 25th to 28th in Toronto.  The Conference is an important opportunity to learn and network with the federal government and other municipal units across Canada. For this reason, the Municipality has historically sent a delegation comprised of those members of Council wishing to attend (along with the CAO).

Registration for the 2023 FCM Conference is scheduled to open at the end of January 2023. In an effort to secure accommodations, the CAO is asking councillors wishing to attend to let him know in the following week.

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
Ginette Cheff suggested a plaque be placed at the building entrance at 795 Highway 1, Comeauville to commemorate Madeleine Leblanc and in doing so, explain why the building was named after her.

9) Closed Session

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

Topics Discussed:
9.1 Personnel Matters

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

10) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at 7:00 pm.

11) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 pm.

Submitted by
Nicole Comeau,
Executive Assistant