Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS
PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc; Deputy Warden Eric Pothier; Councillors Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, Steven Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, and Communications Officer, Francis Robichaud
Presenters:
ABSENT: Councillor Réanne Evans
1) Call to Order
The Warden called the Council meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) Adoption of the Agenda
The Warden asked that the following item be added to the agenda:
- 12.6 Motion to Approve Donation Request
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
Councillor Carl Deveau declared a conflict with item 12.5 Motion to Approve Community Flagpole Request – Association Acadiens-Métis Souriquois.
4) Presentations
None.
5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 April 15, 2026 – Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the minutes of the April 15, 2026, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
5.2 May 6, 2026 – Council-In-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the minutes of the May 6, 2026, 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
April 24 – Attended a Youth Summit with Councillor Réanne Cooper at the NSCC campus in Yarmouth. Both the Warden and Councillor Cooper had the opportunity to engage with students from ESDC about what they (i.e., the students) see as the challenges and opportunities facing our Acadian community.
April 29 to May 1 – Attended the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) Spring Conference.
May 11 – Attended the first meeting of the NS-Municipal Joint Rural Roads Committee. The Warden was appointed to the committee by the members of the NSFM.
8) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Réanne Cooper congratulated the youth delegation from Clare on its participation in the Jeux d’Acadie in Sydney. Of note was the success of the Mixed Improvisation Team which earned a place in the finals in New Brunswick at the end of June.
Councillor Réanne Cooper also congratulated the 2026 graduating class from Université Sainte-Anne, Arthur J. LeBlanc on being named chancellor, as well as the two honorary doctorate recipients, Wayne Comeau and Suzie LeBlanc.
9) Correspondence
9.1 The Honourable John A MacDonald – Minister of Municipal Affairs
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable John A MacDonald, Minister of Municipal Affairs. (
See attached)
9.2 The Honourable Kim Masland – Minister of Emergency Management
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Kim Masland, Minister of Emergency Management. (See attached)
9.3 The Honourable Dave Ritcey – Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Dave Ritcey, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. (See attached)
9.4 Sophie Thériault – Secretary of the Board of Governors, Université Sainte-Anne
The CAO read a letter from Sophie Thériault, Secretary of the Board of Governors of Université Sainte-Anne. (See attached)
10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of May. (See attached)
11) Committee Reports
11.1 Waste Check – Councillor Carl Deveau
The Waste Check AGM was held on May 5. Linda Gregory, Mike Bartlett, and Chris Kingston will continue in the roles of Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary respectively.
The regular meeting of the board was held after the AGM. At this meeting, the EPR program for sharps was discussed. The program itself already exists in other parts of Canada and would be of benefit to communities throughout Nova Scotia. Waste Check has taken this issue to the Minister of Environment for consideration. A templated letter is being prepared by Waster Check for municipalities wishing to reach out to the Minister directly on this issue.
12) New Business
12.1 Motion to Approve 2026-27 Capital Budget
Building on the discussion from the May 6, 2026, Council-in-Committee Meeting, the CAO presented the proposed $2.84M capital budget for fiscal 2026-2027. Highlights included continued investments in the Clare Health Centre, Joseph and Marie Dugas Park, and wastewater infrastructure, while also funding necessary upgrades and/or equipment purchases for the Municipal Office, the Transfer Station and the Municipality`s Public Works Department. Council made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the proposed 2026-2027 Capital Budget as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
12.2 Motion to Approve 2026-27 Volunteer Fire Department Capital Funding Expenditures
The CAO presented the proposed 2026-2027 capital funding allocations for each of the seven fire departments within the Municipality (see attached). The total amount available this year for equipment, as generated by the uniform $0.05 area rate, is $252,390. Council agreed with the proposed distribution of funds and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the proposed 2026-2027 Volunteer Fire Department
Capital Funding Expenditures as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
12.3 Motion to Approve Municipal Tax Write-Off – AAN #11015964, #08506620, and #00866113
Rather than being exempt of municipal property taxes, three municipal parcels of land were mistakenly classified by PVSC as commercial and charged accordingly. Doing so incorrectly increased the value of the Municipality’s assessment roll by $150.04. To remedy the problem, the Municipality must write-off this amount via motion of Council. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write off a total of $150.04 in municipal property taxes, broken down as follows:
- AAN #11015964 - $32.67
- AAN #08506620 - $71.39
- AAN #00866113 - $45.98
MOTION CARRIED
12.4 Motion to Approve Community Flagpole Request – Access Awareness Week
A request was put forward by municipal staff to fly the Access Awareness Flag on the community flagpole from June 1st to June 6th, 2026, in recognition of Access Awareness Week. Council agreed and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the request to fly the Access Awareness Flag on the community flagpole from June 1st to June 6th, 2026, in recognition of Access Awareness Week.
MOTION CARRIED
12.5 Motion to Approve Community Flagpole Request – Association Acadiens-Métis Souriquois
A request was received from l’Association Acadiens-Métis Souriquois to fly the Métis Flag on the community flagpole from June 21 to June 26, 2026, in recognition of the National Indigenous Peoples Day and Métis culture. Council agreed and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the request from l’Association Acadiens-Métis Souriquois to fly the Métis Flag on the community flagpole from June 21st to 26th, 2026, in recognition of the National Indigenous Peoples Day and Métis culture.
MOTION CARRIED
12.6 Motion to Approve Donation Request
Mrs. Helika Adams approached the Municipality wanting to donate a memorial bench and place it in Wentworth Park. The CAO is recommending Council accept this donation with the understanding that a community asset donation policy will be developed moving forward. In this instance, the design and the placement of the bench will be coordinated with staff. Council agreed and made the following motion:
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the request from Mrs. Helika Adams to donate a memorial bench to the Municipality, for placement at Wentworth Park.
MOTION CARRIED
13) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Steven Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council proceed to Closed Session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics discussed
13.1 Contract Negotiations
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
14) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 7:00 pm.
16) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill to adjourn the meeting at 9:14 pm.
Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant