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Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, February 19, 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, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, and Communications Officer, Anique Dugas
Presenters:
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 Nadine Comeau that the proposed agenda be approved as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
Councillor Réanne Evans declared a conflict of interest with item 12.9 Motion to Approve Employee Salary Scales 2025-2028.
4) Presentations
None.
5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 January 21, 2025 – Special Session of Council
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the minutes of the January 21, 2025, Special Session of Council be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
5.2 January 22, 2025 – Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the minutes of the January 22, 2025, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
5.3 February 5, 2025 – Council-In-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the minutes of the February 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
January 29 – Attended a meeting of the WREN Liaison and Oversight Committee
February 5 – Attended a meeting with the Consulate General of France to discuss the possibility of establishing a twinning agreement.
February 8 – Attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of Université Sainte-Anne
February 11 – Attended a meeting of the 11 Mayors and Wardens of South West Nova Scotia for an update and a discussion on the crisis in the lobster fishing industry.
February 11 – Participated in a consultation session, as part of the development of the new strategic plan for Université Sainte-Anne.
February 12 – Attended a meeting of the Police Advisory Board.
February 12 – Attended a meeting with the President of the Association des séniors en sécurité and representatives of the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors and Long-term Care to discuss the placement of this program under the direction of the Villa acadienne.
February 13 – Attended a meeting at Université Sainte-Anne with Darrell Samson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on the occasion of an announcement concerning the expansion of laboratory space.
February 28 – Attended a meeting of the Nominating Committee of the Board of Governors of Université Sainte-Anne.
8) Official Statements from Members of Council
None.
9) Correspondence
9.1 The Honourable Fred Tilley – Minister of Public Works
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Fred Tilley, Minister of Public Works. (S
ee attached)
The CAO will share this letter with the Clare Columbus Club, the Clare Golf and Country Club, and the Clare Physiotherapy Clinic.
10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of February. (See attached)
11) Committee Reports
11.1 Waste Check – Carl Deveau
A meeting of the Board for Waste Check was held on February 11, 2025.
EPR was discussed and is expected to be implemented later this year.
Waste Check is looking to relocate their offices. The group’s current location at the Yarmouth International Airport is not accessible and does not provide to necessary space to meet organizational needs and/or requirements.
Waste Check’s annual audit for 2024 was completed by Doane Grant Thornton. The auditors gave the organization a clean audit opinion.
12) New Business
12.1 Motion to Approve Funding Request – Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne is applying to the Province’s Rink Revitalization Fund for necessary electrical upgrades (new 600-volt / 200-amp service) to its arena. The total cost of the project is estimated at $150,000. As part of the funding mix for the project, Université Sainte-Anne is requesting $50,000 from the Municipality. As part of its budgetary planning process, the Municipality includes $50,000 per year for projects at Université Sainte-Anne which benefit both the University and the community at large. Given the importance of the arena to the Municipality, Council was unanimous in its support for this project and passed the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a contribution of $50,000 to Université Sainte-Anne, in support of its application to the Rink Revitalization Fund for necessary electrical upgrades to the arena.
MOTION CARRIED
12.2 Motion to Approve Funding Request – Clare Columbus Club
The Clare Columbus Club is applying to the Province’s Community Facility Improvement Program for needed renovations and improvements to its hall in Comeauville. The total project has been priced at $40,696. The request to the Province is for 75% of the total project cost or $30,522. The Clare Columbus Club is contribution 10 % ($4,070) and is seeking the remaining 15% ($6,104) from the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations Program. The CAO has reviewed the application and, whereas the hall in question is widely used by the community, is recommending Council approve the funding request as part of the Municipality’s 2025-26 Grants to Organizations Program, subject to the confirmation of the balance of project funding. Council agreed and made the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a contribution from its 2025-26 Grants to Organizations Program to the Clare Columbus Club in support of its hall renovation project, and that said contribution be equal to 15% of the total project cost (up to a maximum of $6,104) and conditional upon confirmation of the balance of project funding.
MOTION CARRIED
12.3 Motion to Approve Municipal Tax Exemption – La Vieille Maison
La Vieille Maison is seeking a municipal tax exemption. The organization has invested a lot of time and effort in restoring the historic property which now operates as a museum. It was a very popular destination during the CMA 2024 and plans are ongoing to build on this momentum and further develop the property. According to the CAO, this request is consistent with other historically and/or culturally significant properties throughout the Municipality who were previously granted municipal tax exemptions. As such, the CAO is recommending Council grant this request subject to La Vieille Maison’s continued operations as a museum. Council agreed and made the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a municipal tax exemption for La Vieille Maison (PID 30071336), and that said exemption be conditional on its continued operations as a museum.
MOTION CARRIED
12.4 Motion to Write a Letter of Support to the Sou’West ATV Association – Request for Access, Dick Thériault Road
The Sou’West ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. The Road Trails Act is an act respecting the operation of off-highway vehicles on designated highways. For this particular application, the Sou’West ATV Association is requesting access to the full length of the Dick Theriault Road from point 44.436786, -66.998269, to NS Trunk 1, and along NS Trunk 1 to 3334 Trunk 1, Belliveau Cove. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort and made the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government to allow ATV access under the Road Trails Act for the full length of the Dick Theriault Road from coordinates 44.436786, -66.998269, to Highway 1, and along Highway 1 to 3334 Highway 1, Belliveau Cove.
MOTION CARRIED
12.5 Motion to Write a Letter of Support to the Sou’West ATV Association – Request for Access, Isadore Thibault Road
The Sou’West ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. For this particular application, the Sou’West ATV Association is requesting access from the intersection of Isadore Thibault Road and NS Trunk 1, Church Point, along the Isadore Thibault Road to point 44.296537, -66.013467. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort 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 write a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government to allow ATV access under the Road Trails Act from the intersection of Isadore Thibault Road and Highway 1, Church Point, along the Isadore Thibault Road to coordinates 44.296537, -66.013467.
MOTION CARRIED
12.6 Motion to Write a Letter of Support to the Sou’West ATV Association – Request for Access, Margo Road
The Sou’West ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. For this particular application, the Sou’West ATV Association is requesting access from the intersection of Margo Road and NS Highway 1 to the intersection of Margo Road and NS Highway 340. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort and made the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government to allow ATV access under the Road Trails Act from the intersection of Margo Road and Highway 1 to the intersection of Margo Road and Highway 340.
MOTION CARRIED
12.7 Motion to Write a Letter of Support to the Sou’West ATV Association – Request for Access, Grosses Coques Road
The Sou’West ATV Association is asking for the Municipality’s support of its request to the Province of NS under the Road Trails Act. For this particular application, the Sou’West ATV Association is requesting access from the intersection of the Grosses Coques Road and NS Highway 1, along the Grosses Coques Road to point 44.296537, -66.01467. Council agreed to lend its support to this effort and made the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to the Sou’West Nova ATV Association in support of their request to the provincial government to allow ATV access under the Road Trails Act from the intersection of Grosses Coques Road and Highway 1, along the Grosses Coques Road to coordinates 44.296537, -66.01467.
MOTION CARRIED
12.8 Motion to Accept Proposal for Engineering Services – Clare C & D Site
The Municipality of Clare is currently updating the monitoring programs for its Transfer Station and
C & D Debris Disposal Site to comply with new provincial legislation. EXP. has been hired to facilitate this exercise. In order to meet these new regulations, and in doing so renew its approval to operate, the Municipality must construct an additional multi-level monitoring well and complete a leachate management plan. Whereas the Municipality has already budgeted for this contingency as part of its 2024-25 operational budget, and given that it has already engaged with EXP. on the related monitoring program updates, the CAO is recommending Council accept the proposal put forward by EXP. Council agreed and made the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposal from EXP for the establishment of a new monitoring well at the municipal C & D site and the development of a leachate management plan, in the amount of $23,600 plus HST and $2,400 plus HST respectively.
MOTION CARRIED
12.9 Motion to Approve Employee Salary Scales 2025-2028
As per the Municipality’s Salary Administration Policy, a review of municipal salary scales must be done every three years to ensure fairness, competitiveness, and sound financial stewardship. The last such review was completed in February 2022. As part of this year’s review, the CAO compared the Municipality’s salary scales with those of the Town of Yarmouth and the Municipalities of Digby, Yarmouth, Argyle and Barrington. Furthermore, the comparison was expanded to include partners such as the WREN and Université Sainte-Anne, as well as salary data from the Association of Municipal Administrators of Nova Scotia. The results of this review concluded that the Municipality’s salary scales required adjustment in order to remain competitive with those of its municipal neighbors. As such, Council passed the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposed municipal employee salary scales as presented, for the three-year period commencing April 1, 2025, and ending March 31, 2028.
MOTION CARRIED
12.10 Motion to Approve Leave Request
Councillor Brian Comeau has submitted a leave request for medical reasons, from February 19, 2025, to June 3, 2025. Council was supportive of the request and made the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the leave of absence request submitted by Councillor Brian Comeau for the period of February 19, 2025, to June 3, 2025.
MOTION CARRIED
13) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that Council proceed to an In-Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics discussed
13.1 Contract Negotiations
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier 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, March 19, 2025, at 7:00 pm.
15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 pm.
Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant