Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

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

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

2) Approval of the Agenda

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

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None.

4) Presentations
4.1 Sainte-Marie héritage et développement – Stéphanie Maillet and Gabrielle Bardall
Stéphanie Maillet and Gabrielle Bardall provided an overview of Sainte-Marie héritage et développement, its efforts to date, and its upcoming initiatives. (See attached)

Following the group’s presentation, Council expressed an interest in assisting with the 3-D scanning of the structure (subject to confirmation of cost) as a means properly commemorating the building. In order to facilitate this effort, the CAO also agreed to waive the tipping fees for the needed removal of garbage from the building.

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 Council Remuneration Policy
The Municipality currently has a by-law concerning Councillor Remuneration. The by-law in question is outdated, no longer relevant, and scheduled for repeal. In its place, the CAO is proposing a Council Remuneration Policy. The purpose of this policy is to provide accountability and transparency on all matters relating to the remuneration of municipal counsellors. Council reviewed the proposed policy and 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 Council Remuneration Policy as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

7.2 Construction Tender – Equipment Storage Building
In an effort to both inform its capital budgeting exercise for fiscal 2025-26 and address the current lack of storage at the municipal office (and across its other facilities), the Municipality issued a tender for an equipment storage building. The tender closed on March 5, 2025. A total of 3 bids were received. The CAO presented the tender results to Council, however, whereas the tender had only closed earlier in the day, there was insufficient time to do a thorough review of the bids prior to the Council-in-Committee Meeting. As such, the CAO will review the bids in the coming days and present a recommendation to Council at a later date. Council agreed.

7.3 Letter – The Honourable John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs. (See attached)

The letter has generated much concern from municipalities across Nova Scotia and is currently being reviewed by the NSFM. To this end, discussions are currently underway between the NSFM and the Province of NS in order to convey these concerns and clarify this request. In light of these ongoing discussions, it is the CAO’s recommendation that Council delay its response to Minister Lohr until further information is received from the NSFM. Council agreed.

7.4 Letter – Marcel Cottreau, Treasurer – Security for Seniors Association
The CAO read a letter from Marcel Cottreau, Treasurer for the Security for Seniors Association (See attached).

The Municipality has historically included a contribution to the Security for Seniors Association in its annual operating budget. This amount is adjusted annually to reflect cost of living increases.

7.5 Streetlight Program - Highway 1 from the Foyer Celeste to the Villa Acadienne
Letters were sent to the 22 properties along the newly completed section of sidewalk in Meteghan in order to assess the level of interest in adding streetlights. The incremental cost per property for these proposed streetlights is $47.08 annually. To date, 18 responses have been received (82% response rate). Of these 18 respondents, 12 (or 67%) are in favor of these new lights. In light of the majority support for these new streetlights, Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend installing streetlights along Highway 1 in Meteghan from the Foyer Celeste (8064 Highway 1, Meteghan) to the Villa Acadienne (7974 Highway 1, Meteghan).
MOTION CARRIED

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
Anique Dugas asked if the services offered by the Security for Seniors Coordinator will be the same as before or if the services will now only be available to the residents of the Villa. The CAO clarified that the services offered will continue to be available to the public. Furthermore, with the Security for Seniors Coordinator position now incorporated into the Villa’s programming, it is hoped both parties will be able to achieve certain synergies in terms of program offerings and ultimately aid more seniors.

9) Closed Session
None.

10) Date and Time of the Next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on April 2, 2025, at 7:00 pm.

11) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 pm.

Submitted by
Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant