March 19, 2025 - Regular Council Meeting

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BUSINESS HOURS - VICTORIA DAY:

Municipal Office: closed
Clare Health Centre: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (on-call services only)
Transfer Station: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Details: Aussi offert en français

Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS

PRESENT: Council: 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:
ABSENT: Warden Yvon LeBlanc and Councillor Brian Comeau

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

2) Adoption of the Agenda
The CAO asked that the following item be added to the agenda:

9.3 The Honourable John Lohr – Minister, Municipal Affairs and Housing

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted addition.
MOTION CARRIED

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
None.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.2 February 19, 2025 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the minutes of the February 19, 2025, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.3 March 5, 2025 – Council-In-Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the minutes of the March 5, 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
None.

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Cooper congratulated the Université Sainte-Anne men’s volleyball team on winning the Atlantic Championships and placing 4^th at the National Championships and requested Council send a letter to the team in recognition of these accomplishments. Council agreed.

Councillor Deveau congratulated Phil Comeau on the recent premiere of his film Résonance Acadie, which opened to a packed theater on March 13, 2025.

9) Correspondence
9.1 Mr. Adrien Comeau – President, La Vieille Maison
The CAO read a letter from Mr. Adrien Comeau, President, La Vieille Maison. (See attached)

9.2 The Honourable John Lohr – Minister, Municipal Affairs and Housing
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable John Lohr, Minister, Municipal Affairs and Housing. (See attached)

9.3 The Honourable John Lohr – Minister, Municipal Affairs and Housing
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable John Lohr, Minister, Municipal Affairs and Housing. (See attached)

10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of March. (See attached)

11) Committee Reports
11.1 Southwest Nova Biosphere Region Association – Carl Deveau
The Southwest Nova Biosphere Association (SWNBRA) met on March 5, 2025.

The SWNBRA remains focused on land conservation, protecting species at risk, and biosphere diversity. To this end, the Association has funds at its disposal to purchase parcels of land in order to help advance these goals.

The Two Billion Trees Project is advancing, albeit not as quickly as originally planned. The current project deadline is 2031 however, it may be extended in it light of these setbacks. Volunteer numbers for this project remain strong and additional resources may be hired on to help increase the number of trees planted.

The Science Atlas project is progressing well and is currently being used in schools. This is a living project, with information being constantly updated to ensure accuracy.

12) New Business
12.1 Motion to Approve 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:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the Council Remuneration Policy as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

12.2 Motion to Authorize Streetlights – Highway 1 Meteghan, from 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, 19 responses have been received (86% response rate). Of these 19 respondents, 13 (or 68%) are in favor of these new lights. Given the majority support for these new streetlights, Council made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare install streetlights along Highway 1 in Meteghan from the Foyer Celeste (8064 Highway 1, Meteghan) to the Villa Acadienne (7974 Highway 1, Meteghan).
MOTION CARRIED

12.3 Motion to Approve Funding Request – Sainte-Marie héritage et développement
Following the group’s presentation on March 5, 2025, Council expressed an interest in assisting with the Hazmat decontamination and the 3-D scanning of the structure (subject to confirmation of cost) as a means of 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. Having since received the requested information, Council made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a contribution of up to $35,000 for Sainte-Marie héritage et développement, in support of the group’s efforts to preserve l’Édifice Sainte-Marie, and that the funds be disbursed as follows:

Hazmat Decontamination – $10,000
3-D Scan and Photogrammetry Overlay – $22,075 (up to $25,000)

MOTION CARRIED

12.4 Motion to Send a Letter of Congratulations – CDÉNÉ 25th Anniversary
The Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ) is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. In light of this important milestone, the CAO is recommending Council send them a congratulatory letter. Council agreed and made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter of congratulations to the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ) in recognition of its 25^th anniversary.
MOTION CARRIED

12.5 Motion to Send a Letter of Congratulations – King Charles III Coronation Medal Recipients
Mr. Noël Després and Councillor Carl Deveau were awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal on February 22, 2025, in recognition of their exceptional and enduring service to the Crown, Canada, the province, and their communities. In light of this remarkable achievement, the CAO is recommending Council send a congratulatory letter to both recipients. Council agreed and made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to Mr. Noël Després, and Mr. Carl Deveau, congratulating them on receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
MOTION CARRIED

13) Closed Session

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

Topics discussed
13.1 Contract Negotiations

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

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the tender for the new equipment storage building to Delmar Construction Ltd. in the amount of $190,715 plus HST, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

14) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting 8:27 pm.

Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant