Municipality of the District of Clare
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, January 21, 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, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, and Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks
Presenters: Hayley Crichton, Executive Director, Public Safety and Security Division, NS Department of Justice Danielle Desjardins, RCMP Liaison to NS Department of Justice,
Sergeant Jeff Leblanc, Meteghan RCMP Detachment Commander,
David Corkum, Business Analyst, H Division RCMP Operations Strategy Branch
ABSENT: Councillors Danny Hill and Brian Comeau

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

2)  Adoption of the Agenda

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau 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 RCMP – General Duty Police Resource Model (GDPRM) Presentation
Sergeant Jeff Leblanc, Meteghan RCMP Detachment Commander and David Corkum, Business Analyst, H Division RCMP Operations Strategy Branch, presented the results of the GDPRM study conducted for the Meteghan RCMP Detachment. (See attached)

For the benefit of those in attendance, Mr. Corkum provided an overview of what data is captured and analyzed. In summation, all workload occurrences are assigned a value in hours and minutes. The total value of these occurrences is then compared to the number of available hours worked by the RCMP officers during that same period of time. In the case of the Meteghan Detachment, the results of this analysis did not meet current RCMP standards, suggesting a lack of availability for proactive policing and community engagement, and recommending the addition of 1 to 3 additional RCMP members.

Councillor Evans inquired as to the need for additional community services to aid the RCMP in its efforts. According to Sergeant LeBlanc, the availability of additional mental health services would be welcomed as this currently represents the largest number of calls received by the Meteghan Detachment. 

5) Questions and Comments from the Public
As a follow-up to the recommendation for 1 to 3 additional members, the question of recruitment and the ability of the RCMP to staff these positions was raised. Sergeant Leblanc confirmed that this was not a concern.

A question was asked as to whether there was currently enough space in the Meteghan Detachment to house these additional resources (if approved). Sergeant Leblanc confirmed that the Meteghan Detachment can house up to three additional members. However, any additional resources over and above these recommended positions would likely require an expansion to the building.

A question was asked as to whether additional resources can be brought in on a temporary basis, to assist with certain files or when tensions run high (i.e., the elver fishery). Sergeant Leblanc confirmed that this can be done and that it is something the Meteghan Detachment currently does on a case-by-case basis.

Lastly, a question was raised regarding the incremental costs associated with bringing in these additional specialty resources (i.e. K9 unit, Cyber-crime, etc.). More specifically, who is responsible for covering these costs. Hayley Crichton, Executive Director, Public Safety and Security Division, Nova Scotia Department of Justice confirmed that municipalities are only responsible for covering their portion of the cost of those officers assigned to their detachment. The costs associated to specialty units called-in to assist individual detachments are covered entirely by the Department of Justice.

6) Closed Session

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

Topics discussed
6.1 Contract Negotiations

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

7) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 pm.

Submitted by: 
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant