Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Nil Doucet, Danny Hill, Philippe Gaudet, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Amy Paradis and Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff
Presenters:
ABSENT: 


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

2) Approval of the Agenda
The CAO asked that the following items be added to the agenda:

  • 7.11 Yarmouth Hospital Foundation

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted addition.
MOTION CARRIED

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None declared.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Staff Reports
5.1 Financial Update – Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff
The Director of Finance provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position. (See attached)

6) Business arising from Previous Meetings
6.1 Naming of Public Lands and Municipal-Owned Facilities Policy
In 2018, a letter was received from the Association Madeleine LeBlanc requesting that the Cultural Hub in Comeauville be renamed. At the time, Council was not willing to consider such a request in the absence of a formal policy for naming municipally owned facilities and asked the CAO to further explore this matter. Unfortunately, this effort was delayed by the onset of Covid-19 and competing project priorities. That said, a draft policy has now been prepared for Council’s review. Council made suggestions regarding bilingualism, diversity, and the need to clarify the language regarding community consultation. The CAO will incorporate these recommendations and forward a copy of the draft policy to the Municipality’s solicitor for her review. Assuming no delays, the policy will once again be presented for Council’s consideration at the May 4th Council-in-Committee meeting.

7) New Business
7.1 Letter of Support – Transport de Clare
The Transport de Clare has requested a letter from the Municipality in support of their application to Infrastructure Canada’s Rural Transit Solutions Fund. Via this application, the Transport de Clare is planning to replace some of its current fleet. Council acknowledged the efforts of the Transport de Clare and its valuable contribution to the community and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the Transport de Clare in support of its application to Infrastructure Canada’s Rural Transit Solutions Fund.
MOTION CARRIED

7.2 Municipal Flood Line Mapping Project – NS Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing
The Meteghan Watershed was identified as part of the Province’s Municipal Flood Line Mapping Project. The Watershed spans a total of 16,295 hectares and will be completely mapped in fiscal 2022-23 in order to properly assess flood risk. The Municipality, in conjunction with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing, will administer the project. The project budget is $110,000 and is entirely funded by the Province of Nova Scotia.

7.3 Tender – Construction of a 30' x 50' Storage Building, Transfer Station
A tender was issued for the construction of a storage shed and installation of a fire detection system at the Transfer Station. A total of two bids were received. Following a review of the bids, the CAO is recommending awarding the tender for the 30' x 50' storage building to Garian Construction Ltd. in the amount of $259,995 plus HST and for the fire detection system to Chubb Fire & Security Canada in the amount of $34,867 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the tender for the construction of a 30' x 50' storage building and the installation of a fire detection system at the Transfer Station, as detailed below, for a total of $294,862 plus HST, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve:

  • 30' x 50' storage building – Garian Construction Ltd. - $259,995 plus HST
  • Fire detection system – Chubb Fire & Security Canada - $34,867 plus HST

MOTION CARRIED

7.4 Foghorn – Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park
A new foghorn was installed at the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park. It is louder and much more sensitive than the previous foghorn and sounds often which in turn is disruptive for area residents. The Warden is requesting Council send a letter to the Department of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard outlining these concerns. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter to the Department of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard outlining concerns relating to the new foghorn at the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park.
MOTION CARRIED

7.5 Dangerous and Unsightly – 641 Bangor Road
The home at 641 Bangor Road was substantially damaged by fire, as was the homeowner’s vehicle. Municipal staff has received numerous complaints regarding the current state of the property, qualifying it as both dangerous and unsightly, and requesting the debris be removed. Until now, the Municipality was unable to act as the fire was being treated as suspicious and the incident was the subject of an active RCMP investigation. This investigation is now complete and although the homeowner’s insurance provider is awaiting the outcome of the investigation, the Municipality will begin dealing with the damaged property under its Dangerous and Unsightly By-law. A letter is currently being drafted by the Municipality’s solicitor and will be served to the homeowner ordering a cleanup of the property and removal of the debris within 30 days. Should the homeowner refuse to comply, the Municipality will conduct the cleanup and charge the cost to the homeowner’s tax account where it will become an enforceable lien against the property.

7.6 100th Anniversary – St. Alphonse Church
The St. Alphonse Church will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Comité du centennaire for the St. Alphonse Church have planned events and/or celebrations throughout the year in honor of this occasion and has contacted the Municipality requesting a small donation to help offset related costs. Council recognized the hard work and dedication of the volunteers involved in this effort and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend making a donation in the amount of $500 to the Comité du centennaire in support of the 100th anniversary celebrations planned for the St. Alphonse Church.
MOTION CARRIED

7.7 Tender – Mowing of Grounds, Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park
The Municipality issued a tender for the mowing of the grounds at the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park. This tender is issued every three years. A total of three bids were received. Following a review of the bids, it is the recommendation of the CAO that Council award the three-year contract to Robert J. Deveau in the amount of $3,300 per annum. Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the three-year contract for the mowing of the grounds at the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park to Robert J. Deveau in the amount of $3,300 per annum.
MOTION CARRIED

7.8 RFP – Cleaning of Public Washrooms, Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park
The Municipality issued an RFP for the cleaning of the public washrooms at the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park. A single bid was received. Following a review of the bid, it is the recommendation of the CAO that Council award the contract to Gail Maillet (the Municipality’s previous service provider) in the amount of $2,500 per annum. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the 1-year contract for the cleaning of the public washrooms at the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park to Gail Maillet in the amount of $2,500.
MOTION CARRIED

7.9 NSFM Spring Conference – May 4 to 6
The NSFM Spring Conference will be held at White Point Beach Resort, from May 4th to 6th. The CAO is asking Councillors to confirm with him by Friday, April 8th, if they wish to attend, in order for staff to make the necessary arrangements. 

7.10 Purchase of Municipal Artwork
The Municipality was provided the opportunity to purchase artwork entitled “The Deveau Shore – La Butte Ronde” by artist Roy Mandell. These types of requests / opportunities are not uncommon and in order to treat each of these in a fair, consistent and transparent manner, the CAO is recommending a policy be drafted for Council’s consideration. Council agreed.

7.11 Yarmouth Hospital Foundation
Lisa Doucette has stepped down as the Municipality’s Community Representative on the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation. The Foundation Board has reached out to the CAO in the hopes of finding a qualified replacement. Scheduling conflicts and competing priorities make it difficult for a member of Council to join the Board. As such, the CAO will once again advertise this position in local print media, social media, and on the municipal website.

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
Glenda Doucet-Boudreau of the Association Madeline LeBlanc thanked Council for considering a naming policy and asked when the draft policy would be available to the public. The CAO reiterated his intention to have the policy reviewed by the Municipality’s solicitor and then present the revised policy at the May 4th Council-in-Committee Meeting. Assuming a motion to recommend is made at that time, the policy will be available for review by the public up to the May 18th Council Meeting, where it will be further discussed and/or considered for approval.

Betty Anne German commented that whereas the Cape Saint Mary Lighthouse Park was going to become a small interpretive centre will local artifacts, Council may want to include in the letter to the Department of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard that the foghorn could have a negative impact on the centre.  

Mrs. German also mentioned that she would like Council to consider purchasing art from local artists and that these types of purchases could be done via tender.

The Warden thanked both spectators for their questions and comments.

9) Closed Session
None.

9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on May 4, 2022, at 7:00 pm.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

Submitted by

Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant