Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

PRESENT: Council: Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Councillors, Nil Doucet, Philippe Gaudet, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, and Eric Pothier
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Amy Paradis and Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff
Presenters:
ABSENT:   Councillor Danny Hill

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:

• 7.5 Request for Letter of Support – Rails to Trails
• 7.6 WREN Liaison and Oversight Committee Appointment
• 9.1 Contract Negotiations

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau 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
The Director of Finance provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position. (See attached)

6) Business arising from Previous Meetings
6.1 Brush Cutting on Farm Road 101-11 Saulnierville Station
As a follow up to the discussion at the last Council meeting, the CAO spoke with staff at the NS Public Works location in Saulnierville and was advised that they had just received additional funding for brush cutting along farm roads. In light of this additional funding, the CAO asked that the Farm Road 101-11 in Saulnierville Station be added to their list of priorities. Councillor Carl Deveau will advise his constituent of this discussion and suggest he follow up directly with NS Public Works.

7) New Business
7.1 Request for Proposals – Geotechnical Surveys - Viewing Platforms
The request for proposals for the geotechnical surveys was issued as part of the Tourism Public Spaces Project. It closed on October 22, 2021. A total of four bids were received. Following a review of the bids, both the CAO and Tourism Manager are recommending Council accept the proposal from Harbourside Geotechnical Consultants Ltd., in the amount of $8,980 plus HST. Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend accepting the proposal from Harbourside Geotechnical Consultants Ltd. for the Geotechnical Surveys – Viewing Platforms in the amount of $8,980 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

7.2 Request for Proposals – Parc Joseph-et-Marie Dugas and Major’s Point
The request for proposals for the Parc Joseph et Marie Dugas and Major’s Point was also issued as part of the Tourism Public Spaces Project. It closed on October 29, 2021. A total of three bids were received. Following a review of the bids, both the CAO and Tourism Manager are recommending Council accept the proposal from Jost + Architects Ltd., in the amount of $143,500 plus HST, conditional upon confirmation of balance of funding. Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend accepting the proposal from Jost + Architects Ltd. for the detailed design of the Parc Joseph-et-Marie Dugas and Major’s Point in the amount of $143,500 plus HST, conditional upon confirmation of balance of funding.
MOTION CARRIED

7.3 Meeting of Mayors and Wardens – Lobster Dispute
With the recent appointment of the Honourable Joyce Murray as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the working group of 11 mayors and wardens met to discuss next steps. It was agreed that a letter would be drafted to the Minister, extending an invitation to meet with the group and discuss ongoing concerns relating to the lobster dispute and it impacts on public safety and the economic viability of our coastal communities

7.4 Housing Action Plan
The CAO and the Director of Community Development met with representatives of SHS Consultants on October 28, 2021, to review the submissions (i.e., properties), in preparation for selecting the shortlist of proposals that will be contacted for follow-up discussions and/or proposal refinements. At this meeting, it was suggested by the CAO that Council would benefit from a similar presentation, prior to moving to follow-up discussions with individual property owners. This meeting would also serve as an opportunity to discuss Council’s preferences in terms of possible ownership structures for any new housing developments moving forward. To this end, a second meeting will be scheduled with SHS Consultants in the coming weeks.

7.5 Request for letter of Support – Rails to Trails
As part of their funding application to the OHV Infrastructure Fund, the Association Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association is asking for a letter of support from the Municipality. If successful, funds will be utilised for trail maintenance, specifically re-surfacing, grading and brush cutting. The Association routinely applies to this fund for financial assistance and has previously received letters of support from Council as part of this application process. Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter of support for the Sentier de Clare Rail to Trail Association in support of their funding request to the OHV Infrastructure Fund.
MOTION CARRIED

7.6 WREN Liaison and oversight committee appointment
Ronnie LeBlanc was previously appointed to the Liaison and Oversight Committee, with Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc serving as an alternate. With Mr. LeBlanc (Ronnie) no longer on Council, there is currently a vacancy which Council must fill. To this end, the CAO is recommending Council defer its decision until after the special election for District 7, scheduled for November 20, 2021. Council agreed.

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
None.

9) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
9.1 Contract Negotiations

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

9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on December 1, 2021, at 7:00 pm.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm.

Submitted by
Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant