Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, January 22, 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, Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Anique Dugas
Presenters: Hugh MacKay, Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia
ABSENT: Councillor Brian Comeau
1) Call to Order
The Warden called the Council meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) Adoption of the Agenda
The CAO asked that the following changes be made to the agenda:
- Add 12.8 Motion to Send a Letter of Support – Bangor Development Commission
- Remove item 13.3 Public Security
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted changes.
MOTION CARRIED
3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
Councillor Réanne Cooper declared a conflict of interest with item 12.2 Motion to Approve Funding Request – Société acadienne de Clare
4) Presentations
4.1 Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia – Hugh MacKay
Hugh MacKay provided Council with an overview of the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia (RCFNS) and their various initiatives. Particular attention was given to the Dave Gunning Zero Hunger Fund which strives to combat food insecurity by partnering with schools to create free stores where parents and children can access food and supplies they cannot themselves afford. (
See attached)
Council thanked Mr. MacKay and seeing value in his presentation, recommended the RCFNS apply to the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations program.
5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 December 18, 2024 – Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the minutes of the December 18, 2024, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
5.2 January 8, 2025 – Council-In-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the minutes of the January 8, 2025, Council-In-Committee Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.
7) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Yvon LeBlanc
January 17 – Participated in an interview with Radio Canada to discuss the opening of the new physician offices at the Clare Health Centre.
January 18 – Conducted a tour of municipal sites with members of the Public Works Committee to verify the current state of our assets and identify any needed repairs and/or improvements.
January 18 – Attended a tour of the Maltais Group’s manufacturing site in Concession, accompanied by Deputy Warden Eric Pothier.
January 21 – Attended a Special Meeting of Council featuring a presentation from the RCMP and the Nova Scotia Department of Justice on the results of an in-depth analysis focusing on current and recommended member resources for the Meteghan detachment.
January 22 – Attended a round-table session (along with the CAO) with ESDC's grade 9 civics class. Here, we discussed the role of the Council, our current projects, and our priority files. We also touched on issues which they had identified beforehand as important (i.e., cell phone service, transportation, parks, police, etc.)
8) Official Statements from Members of Council
None.
9) Correspondence
9.1 The Honourable John Lohr – Minister of Municipal Affairs
The CAO read a letter from The Honourable John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs. (See attached)
9.2 Melissa Comeau – J&M Foster for Cats
The CAO read a letter from Melissa Comeau of J&M Foster for Cats. (See attached)
10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of January. (See attached)
11) Committee Reports
11.1 Waste Check – Carl Deveau
The Waste Check Committee met on January 14, 2025.
The EPR file is progressing well and although still in the hands of the Province, is expected to be implemented late next fiscal. Once implemented, EPR will ensure producers (i.e., the businesses that supply packaging and paper) are financially responsible and accountable for those materials over their full life cycle. This will in turn significantly reduce the recycling costs currently being incurred by municipal units across Nova Scotia.
As is the case each winter, Waste Check is reminding residents to not put their bins out too early or leave them out too long, as they risk being damaged.
12) New Business
12.1 Motion to Accept Proposal – External Auditing Services
A Request for Proposals for External Auditing Services for the next five fiscal years was issued in December with a closing date of January 8, 2025. A total of two bids were received, both from reputable firms who are known to the Municipality – White Perkins Associates and Doane Grant Thornton. Following a detailed review of the bids, it is the recommendation of both the CAO and the Director of Finance that Council accept the proposal from Doane Grant Thornton LLP. Council agreed and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the 5-year proposal for external auditing services submitted by Doane Grant Thornton LLP and broken down as follows:
- $32,000 plus HST for fiscal 2025-26
- $33,150 plus HST for fiscal 2026-27
- $34,300 plus HST for fiscal 2027-28
- $35,460 plus HST for fiscal 2028-29
- $36,600 plus HST for fiscal 2029-30
MOTION CARRIED
12.2 Motion to Approve Funding Request – Société acadienne de Clare
On December 18, 2024, Natalie Robichaud, Executive Director of the Société acadienne de Clare presented before Council and provided an overview of the Society’s strategic priorities and active projects moving forward. As part of this presentation, the Pomme Belliveau project was discussed and a request made for $950 to aid with its implementation.
Council has since considered this request and sees value in the project. That being the case, the following motion was made:
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the funding request from the Société acadienne de Clare in the amount of $950 for their Pomme Belliveau project and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations fund.
MOTION CARRIED
12.3 Motion to Re-adopt Municipal Hospitality Policy
According to Section 23 (7) of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), the Municipality’s Hospitality Policy must be reviewed by the 31st of January immediately following a regular election held under the Municipal Elections Act and following a motion by Council, either re-adopted or amended. In accordance with the MGA, Council reviewed the Municipality’s Hospitality Policy and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Municipality of the District of Clare re-adopt the Municipal Hospitality Policy as presented, in accordance with Section 23 (7) of the Municipal Government Act.
MOTION CARRIED
12.4 Motion to Re-adopt Municipal Expense Policy
According to Section 23 (7) of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), the Municipality’s Expense Policy must be reviewed by the 31st of January immediately following a regular election held under the Municipal Elections Act and following a motion by Council, either re-adopted or amended. In accordance with the MGA, Council reviewed the Municipality’s Expense Policy and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Municipality of the District of Clare re-adopt the Municipal Expense Policy as presented, in accordance with Section 23 (7) of the Municipal Government Act.
MOTION CARRIED
12.5 Motion to Approve Funding Contribution – Southwest Fusion U18 Navy Girls Volleyball
Some members of Council were approached by the Southwest Fusion U18 Navy Girls Volleyball Club for funding assistance to aid with costs associated with the Club’s participation in the Youth National Championships in Edmonton, Alberta in May, 2025. Following a review of the request, it is the CAO’s recommendation that the request de referred to the Community Development Department and a contribution of $1,000 be approved under the Municipality’s 2025-2026 Community Recreation Assistance Fund. Council agreed.
It should be noted that requests to the Community Recreation Assistance Program are approved in-house by the Department of Community Development and do not require a motion of Council.
12.6 Motion to Award Tender – Dangerous and Unsightly, 903 Maza Road, Bangor
A tender was issued for the clean-up of 903 Maza Road, Bangor under the Municipality’s Dangerous and Unsightly Premises By-law. A total of five bids were received. Following a review of the bids, it is the recommendation of the CAO that Council award the tender to Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd. in the amount of $1,450 plus HST. Council agreed and passed the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for the clean-up of the property located at 903 Maza Road, Bangor to Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd. in the amount of $1,450 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED
12.7 Motion to Authorize Application – Charged for Change, Aviva and Earth Day Canada
The Municipality is applying to Aviva and Earth Day Canada’s Charged for Change program for funding assistance with the purchase and installation of four level two EV chargers. As per the application process, the Municipality must adopt a motion authorizing said application. To that end, Council passed the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Municipality of the District of Clare authorize the Municipality’s application to the Charged for Change program for funding assistance with the purchase and installation of four (4) level two (2) EV Chargers.
MOTION CARRIED
12.8 Motion to Send a Letter of Support – Bangor Development Commission
The Bangor Development Commission is applying to the National Trust of Canada’s Next Great Save 2025 competition for a chance to win $50,000. In order to bolster their application, the Commission is requesting a letter of support from the Municipality. Council agreed and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Bangor Development Commission in support of its application to the National Trust of Canada’s Next Great Save 2025 competition.
MOTION CARRIED
13) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics discussed
13.1 Contract Negotiations
13.2 Acquisition and Sale of Municipal Property
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Nova Scotia Minister of Justice requesting an increase of 2 RCMP officers (1 General Duty Officer and 1 GIS Officer) assigned to the Meteghan RCMP Detachment, effective April 1, 2025, and in doing so confirm its incremental financial commitment to the requested police resources.
MOTION CARRIED
14) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 7:00 pm.
15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting 8:44 pm.
Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant