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Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 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, Brian Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Anique Dugas
Presenters:
ABSENT:

1) Call to Order
The Warden called the Council meeting to order at 7:36 pm, following the Swearing in Ceremony.

2)  Adoption of the Agenda 

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the proposed agenda be approved as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED          

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
None declared.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 September 18, 2024 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the minutes of the September 18, 2024, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 October 2, 2024 – Council in Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the minutes of the October 2, 2024, 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 Réanne Cooper congratulated Carl Deveau, Carl Comeau, and Terrence LeBlanc on being awarded the Province of Nova Scotia’s highest recognition for bravery, the Nova Scotia Medal of Bravery, and asked that Council issue a letter of congratulations to all three recipients. Council agreed.

Councillor Brian Comeau congratulated Kevin Maillet on his 100^th blood donation and asked that Council send a letter to Mr. Maillet in recognition of his important contribution. Council agreed.

Councillor Carl Deveau wished Philip LeBlanc a happy 90^th birthday (celebrated on October 20^th) and asked that Council send Mr. LeBlanc a celebratory certificate marking this occasion. Council agreed.

9) Correspondence
9.1 Denise Comeau-Desautels – President, Bangor Development Commission
The CAO read a letter from Denise Comeau-Desautels, President of the Bangor Development Commission. (See attached)

MOVED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute $5,000 to the Bangor Development Commission to help offset the cost for the repairs to the damn and that these funds be taken from Grants to Organizations.
MOTION CARRIED

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

11) Committee Reports
11.1 Building Permits Report – Brian Comeau
Councillor Brian Comeau read the building permits report for the month of September.

September 2024

11.2 Southwest Nova Biosphere Region Association – Councillor Carl Deveau
The Southwest Nova Biosphere Region Association met on October 2, 2024. In terms of its projects / initiatives:

• The Association is in the process of acquiring land in Queens County to ensure that migratory birds have places to nest.

• The 2 billion tree project is progressing well. Despite a delay in acquiring trees (which has now been resolved), the Association was successful in planting some 80,000 trees last year.

• The Science Atlas is being worked on by NSCC Middleton. Once complete, it will be distributed to schools.

12)  New Business
12.1 Motion to Send Letter of Support – Far Out Festival
The Far Out Festival is requesting a letter of support as a part of their funding application to Canadian Heritage. No funds are being requested from the Municipality. Over the years, the Municipality has provided similar letters to the Far Out Festival, in support of their efforts to secure financing. Council made the following motion:

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Far Out Festival, in support of their funding application to Canadian Heritage.
MOTION CARRIED

12.2 Motion to Approve Change Order – Demolition of Washroom Building, Joseph and Marie Dugas Park
The washroom building at the Joseph and Marie Dugas Park suffered extensive damage as a result of a recent fire. Sadly, a second municipal building in Joseph and Marie Dugas Park has since burnt and cannot be salvaged. Whereas Deveau’s Dirtworks had previously been hired by the Municipality, following an invitational tendering process, to tear down and remove the debris from the washroom building, the CAO is proposing a change order be issued to include the removal and clean up of the second building. Doing so would increase the amount of the tender from $2,230 plus HST to $4,430 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare increase the amount awarded to Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd. for the demolition of the washroom building at the Joseph and Marie Dugas Park from $2,230 plus HST to $4,430 plus HST, to include the demolition and clean-up of a second building within the park.
MOTION CARRIED

12.3 Motion to Appoint Building Official
The Municipality recently advertised for a second Building Official / Fire Inspector. A number of candidates applied and interviewed for the position. Once the interviews complete, the position was offered to Jake Belliveau. Mr. Belliveau’s first day of employment with the Municipality was October 15, 2024. It is the recommendation of both the CAO and the Director of Public Works that Mr. Belliveau be appointed by Council as both a Building Official and Fire Inspector for the Municipality. Council agreed and made the following motions:

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Jake Belliveau as Building Official for the Municipality of Clare.
MOTION CARRIED

12.4 Motion to Appoint Fire Inspector

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Jake Belliveau as Fire Inspector for the Municipality of Clare.
MOTION CARRIED

12.5 Motion to Award Tender – Demolition of 286 d’Entremont Road, Meteghan River
Multiple complaints have been received regarding the property located at 286 d’Entremont Road in Meteghan River. Following a review of the site by both the Municipality’s By-Law Enforcement Officer and Building Inspectors, the buildings in question were deemed dangerous under the Municipality’s Dangerous and Unsightly By-Law and a recommendation made that they be demolished. After several unanswered messages to the owner, a demolition tender was issued and a total of five bids were received. Following a review of the bids, it is the recommendation of the CAO that Council accept the proposal from Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd. in the amount of $4,490 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposal from Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd. for the demolition of 286 d’Entremont Road, Meteghan River, in the amount of $4,490 plus HST.
MOTION CARRIED

12.6 Motion to Send Letter of Recognition – Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse
Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse won four Prix d’Excellence de la presse francophone 2024. Both the CAO and the Municipality’s Communications Officer believe this is deserving of Council recognition. Council agreed and made the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter of recognition to Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse for having won four Prix d’Excellence de la presse francophone 2024, namely:

• Newspaper of the Year
• Award for General Excellence – Graphic Quality
• Award for Excellence for Front Page of the Year
• Award for Excellence for Special Print Project of the Year

MOTION CARRIED

12.7 Motion to Approve Municipal Emergency Management Plan
The CAO has been asked to provide EMO Nova Scotia a copy of the Municipality’s revised Emergency Management Plan (EMO Plan). Before doing so, a motion is required from Council formally adopting the plan. Council passed the following motion:

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the Municipal Emergency Management Plan as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

13) Closed Session 
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that Council proceed to an In-Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
13.1 Contract Negotiations
13.2 Acquisition and Sale of Municipal Property
13.3 Personnel Matters

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine 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, November 20, 2024, at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau to adjourn the meeting at 9:31 pm.

Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant