Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017 at 7:00 pm
PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet, Councillors, Danny Hill, Hector Thibault, Carl Deveau, Brian Comeau, Eric Pothier and Yvon LeBlanc.
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr; Administrative Assistant to the CAO, Alain Poirier,
Public: Cathy Theriault - Manager of Transport de Clare, Chad Comeau.
ABSENT:
1) Call to order
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) (a) Approval of the agenda
The Warden asked that the following items be added to the Agenda.
- Under New Business.
MOVED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault
that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted additions.
MOTION CARRIED
(b) Declaration of conflict of interest
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc asked for any declarations of conflict of interest.
None declared
3) Presentations
3.1 Transport de Clare – Cathy Theriault, Manager
Cathy Theriault, presented an overview of the services currently offered by the Transport de Clare. Mrs. Theriault is requesting additional financial assistance from the Municipality of Clare (see attached). This request will be considered as part of Council’s budget deliberations.
3.2 Projet Clare PG – Chad Comeau
Mr. Chad Comeau presented a project he is currently working on, in collaboration with “La FRAP” (see attached). As part of the project funding mix, Mr. Comeau is requesting $5,000 from Council. Council thanked Mr. Comeau for his presentation and stated that a decision will be made by the end of May.
4) Staff reports
None
5) Business arising from previous meetings
5.1 Request for Letter – Sou’west ATV Association
The CAO contacted Mr. Jeff Gushue, CAO for the Town of Yarmouth, who confirmed the Town’s interest in this pilot project. Mr. Gushue thanked the Municipality for reaching out to Yarmouth in support of this effort. A letter has been drafted and will be sent to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.
6) New business
6.1 Grant Application – Association sentier de Clare Rails to Trails Association
The CAO mentioned that the Association sentier de Clare Rails to Trails Association applied for funding under Grants to Organizations. Council reviewed the application and will consider this request as part of its budget deliberations.
6.2 Grant Application – Juniper House
The CAO mentioned that Juniper House applied for funding under Grants to Organizations. Council reviewed the application and will consider this request as part of its budget deliberations.
6.3 Grant Application – Tusket River Environmental Protection Association (TREPA)
The CAO mentioned that the Tusket River Environmental Protection Association applied for funding under Grants to Organizations. Council reviewed the application and will consider this request as part of its budget deliberations.
6.4 Inquiry – Al’s Paint & More Ltd.
Al`s Paint & More Ltd. is looking to expand and has inquired as to the possibility of leasing a small parcel of land behind the Clare Search and Rescue facility. Council is not averse to this request. However, in the spirit of fairness and transparency, Council will invite expressions of interest from neighboring businesses abutting this same parcel of land prior to making its decision.
6.5 Inquiry – Christien & Jeanne Comeau
The CAO was approached by Mr. and Mrs. Christien and Jeanne Comeau regarding the possibility of purchasing land PID 30056592. The parcel in question is owned by the Municipality. Council’s policy is not to sell lands owned by the Municipality (unless required). Furthermore, given the proximity of this land to the Clare Veterans Centre, Council is keenly aware of its future development potential. For these reasons, it is not prepared to entertain an offer at this time from Mr. and Mrs. Comeau.
6.6 Audit Committee Membership
The CAO recommended to Council that it consider adding a member of the public to the Audit Committee. This is considered a best practice in terms of accountability and transparency and will almost certainly be made a requirement for all municipal units by the Province of Nova Scotia. Council agreed with the recommendation and rather than wait for the provincial directive, passed the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend appointing a member of the community to the Audit Committee.
MOTION CARRIED
6.7 Sponsorship Request – High C’s in Digby Choral Festival
The Warden explained that both he and the Deputy Warden received a letter from the High C’s in Digby Choral Festival (see attached). Council was in favor of a one-time sponsorship in the amount of $500 and passed the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend sponsoring the High C’s in Digby Choral Festival in commemoration of their 10th anniversary in the amount of $500.
MOTION CARRIED
6.8 Community Litter Cleanup Program
The Administrative Assistant to the CAO, Alain Poirier proposed to Council that the Municipality manage the Community Clean-up Program internally rather than in collaboration with Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR). By doing so, Mr. Poirier hopes to achieve greater efficiencies in terms of program delivery. Mr. Poirier also recommended offering private sector enterprise the opportunity to partner with the Municipality by sponsoring this program. Council agreed with both recommendations.
6.9 Réseau des villes francophones et francophiles d’Amérique.
The “Réseau des villes francophones et francophiles d’Amérique will host their second annual general meeting later this year in Quebec. Warden LeBlanc has been asked by the Réseau to sit on the Réseau’s Tourism Committee. The Department of Acadians Affairs is prepared to pay up to $1,000 towards the costs of attending this meeting. Council saw value in the Warden participating on this Committee and agreed that he should attend the upcoming meeting.
7) Questions and comments from the public
None.
8) Closed Session Deputy Warden Nil Doucet
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council proceed to an In-Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics discussed:
- 8.1 Animal Control
- 8.2 Rural Internet
- 8.3 Personnel
PROPOSED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
9) Date and time of next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on June 7th, 2017 at 7:00 PM.
10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:33 PM.