Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS

PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Councillors, Nil Doucet, Philippe Gaudet, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, and Eric Pothier
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Director of Community Development, Pam Doucet, Community Development Officer, Réanne Flynn, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Amy Paradis, and Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff
Presenters: Natalie Robichaud and Marc-Alexandre Lagacy, Société acadienne de Clare
ABSENT:  Councillor Danny Hill

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

2) Approval of the Agenda
Councillor Brian Comeau asked that the following item be added to the agenda:

  • 4 Dangerous and Unsightly

The CAO asked that the following item be added to the agenda:

  • 1 Low-Income Property Tax Exemption

MOVED BY Councillor ­­­­­­Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted additions.
MOTION CARRIED           

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
The Warden asked for any declarations of conflict of interest. Councillor Eric Pothier declared a conflict with item 7.2 New Road Name – Pothier Lane.

4) Presentations
4.1 Communauté francophone accueillante de Clare – Amy Paradis, Natalie Robichaud and Marc-Alexandre Lagacy
Amy Paradis, Natalie Robichaud and Marc-Alexandre Lagacy presented an overview of the Communauté francophone accueillante de Clare (CFA) project (pdfSee attached). Clare is one of 14 welcoming francophone communities across Canada and as such is working on welcoming immigrants into our community through a variety of outreach activities.

Of the many initiatives under the CFA project, staff is proposing the purchase and installation of an artificial rink, as a means of developing programming tailored to newcomers and various other community groups, in an effort to build awareness and foster inclusion. Council is supportive of the initiative. Staff will provide further details regarding dimensions and pricing at the March 17, 2021 Council meeting.

5) Staff Reports
5.1 Clare Veterans Centre – Director of Community Development, Pam Doucet, and Community Development Officer, Réanne Flynn
The Director of Community Development, Pam Doucet, and the Community Development Officer, Réanne Flynn, presented an update to the revitalization project at the Clare Veterans Centre (pdfSee attached).

The project in question focuses on accessibility, energy efficiency, inclusion, and modernization of this public space, at a total cost of $1,990,529. Council is supportive of the proposed renovations / improvements and is prepared to contribute $537,443 to this effort, conditional on the balance of funding being secured. Additional funding sources, both federal and provincial, will be sought to complete the funding mix. Council made the following motions to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend rescinding its motion from December 18, 2019, that approves a contribution of $163,098 for the Clare Veterans Centre.
MOTION CARRIED

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving funding for the Clare Veterans Centre in the amount of $537,443 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 Financial Update – Director of Finance, Ginette Cheff
The Director of Finance provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position. (pdfSee attached)

6) Business arising from Previous Meetings
6.1 Low-Income Property Tax Exemption
At the February 3, 2021 Council in Committee Meeting, the Director of Finance presented different scenarios pertaining to the Municipality’s Low-Income Property Tax Exemption, for Council’s consideration. Following additional review, and with the support of the CAO, the Director of Finance is recommending that the maximum household income threshold to qualify for the low-income property tax exemption be increased to $22,000 and that the rebate amount remain at $300. It is also recommended that recipients of the Seniors Tax Rebate offered by the Province of Nova Scotia be considered ineligible for the municipal rebate. Council agreed and passed the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend setting the 2021-2022 low-income property tax exemption amount at $300 for households earning less than $22,000 per annum.|
MOTION CARRIED

7) New Business
7.1 Financial Condition Indicators – Municipality of Clare
The CAO provided Council with an overview of the Municipality’s financial condition indicators (pdfSee attached). These indicators further confirm that the Municipality’s financial position is sound.

7.2 New Road Name – Pothier Lane
The Municipality was approached with a request to name a private road. The property owners along this road are 100% in agreement as to the proposed name. Furthermore, the proposed name is compliant with the Municipality’s road naming policy. Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving that the road shared by the PIDs (Property Identification Number) listed below be named as follows:

  • In English: Pothier Lane
  • In French: ruelle Pothier

30275119, 30084180, 30084172
MOTION CARRIED

7.3 Police Advisory Board – Council Appointment
The Municipality’s Police Advisory Board is seeking to add a third community representative. In accordance with the Nova Scotia Police Act, doing so requires the remainder of the board be comprised of three municipal councillors and one member appointed by the Minister. At present, there are two councillors serving on the Police Advisory Board. The CAO is inquiring whether there is a third councillor interested in joining the Board. Councillor Brian Comeau expressed interest. Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend appointing Councillor Brian Comeau to the Police Advisory Board.
MOTION CARRIED

7.4 Dangerous and Unsightly
Councillor Brian Comeau was advised of an unsightly property on the Frank Comeau Road with garbage strewn about. The resident of the said property has recently passed. Councillor Comeau is requesting Ritchie Nickerson from Waste Check visit the property to assess the situation and report back to the CAO. The CAO will contact Mr. Nickerson.

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
None.

9) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
9.1 Acquisition and Sale of Municipal Property
9.2 Public Safety

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend accepting the offer put forward by Hector Boudreau to purchase a 1.5-acre portion of a 4.33-acre lot currently owned by the Municipality (PID 30070056) in exchange for $10,000 and the cancellation of an existing grant of easement.
MOTION CARRIED

9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on April 7, 2021 at 7:00 pm.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 pm.

Submitted by
Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant