Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

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

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

2) Approval of the Agenda
Councillor Carl Deveau asked for the following revision:

  • Item 7.9 be corrected to show Comeauville Wharf Road

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

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None declared.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Staff Reports
5.1 Financial Update
The CAO provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position. (pdfSee attached)

6) Business arising from Previous Meetings
6.1 Deed Transfer Tax
The Director of Finance first raised this issue at the July 2, 2021, Council-in-Committee meeting for Council’s consideration.

Currently, the Municipality of Clare has a deed transfer tax rate of 0.5%. This rate has remained unchanged for some 40 years. It is the lowest in South West Nova Scotia and one of the lowest in the entire Province, with most other municipal units having a rate of 1.0% or 1.5%. Based on current budgetary projections, increasing the Municipality’s deed transfer tax rate to 1.0% would generate $125,000 in incremental revenue. To be clear, the deed transfer tax is only collected on the sale of property, it has no impact on either the residential or commercial tax rates currently in place. Given increasing budgetary pressures faced by the Municipality, both the CAO and the Director of Finance are recommending Council proceed with a modest 0.5% increase of the deed transfer tax, from 0.5% to 1.0%. Council agreed and made the following motion 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 increasing the Deed Transfer Tax for the Municipality of the District of Clare from 0.5% to 1%, effective April 1, 2022.
MOTION CARRIED

7) New Business
7.1 Draft – By-Law Amendment – Building
The CAO presented a proposed amendment to the Building By-Law for Council’s review and consideration. The proposed amendment provides clarity to the existing by-law and increases the Municipality’s competitiveness in terms of permit pricing. It has been vetted by both the Municipality’s solicitor and its buildings officials, as well as the By-law Committee. Barring any major concerns from Council, it is the Committee’s intent to present the proposed by-law amendment for first reading at the October 20, 2021, meeting of Council. As such, Council was asked to review the amendment and forward any questions and/or concerns to the CAO prior to October 20, 2021.

7.2 Tender – Construction of a 30' x 50' Storage Building
The tender closed on September 29, 2021. Three bids were received. All three bids were significantly higher than the amount budgeted for this building. As such, the decision was made to decline all three bids and re-tender the project later this year. In the meantime, staff will review the building specifications in an effort to possibly lower costs.

7.3 Tender – Library Washroom Renovation
The tender closed on September 29, 2021. A total of two bids were received. Although both bids were above the amount budgeted for this project, both the CAO and Council agreed that these washrooms needed to be made accessible. Following a review of the bids, the CAO is recommending the tender be awarded to Intuitive Carpentry Inc., in the amount of $26,525.54 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Brian Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend awarding the tender for the Library Washroom Renovation to Intuitive Carpentry Inc., in the amount of $26,525.54 plus HST, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

7.4 Letter of Support – Société Acadienne de Clare
The Société Acadienne de Clare is asking Council for a letter in support of their three-year operational funding application to Canadian Heritage. The Municipality had provided the Society with such a letter in 2018, in support of their previous application to Canadian Heritage. Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend writing a letter for the Société Acadienne de Clare in support of their operational funding request (2022-2025) to Canadian Heritage.    
MOTION CARRIED

7.5 Appointment of Assistant Building Official and Assistant Fire Inspector
With the recent hiring of Ryan LeBlanc, the CAO is requesting that a motion to recommend be made formally appointing Mr. LeBlanc as the new Assistant Building Official and Assistant Fire Inspector. Council passed 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 appointing Ryan LeBlanc as the new Assistant Building Official and Assistant Fire Inspector for the Municipality of Clare.
MOTION CARRIED

7.6 Appointment of Special Constable
In order to allow Ryan LeBlanc to enforce municipal by-laws, he must first be appointed by Council as a Special Constable under the Nova Scotia Police Act. The CAO is therefore requesting such a motion be made. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend making an application to the Department of Justice for the appointment of Ryan LeBlanc as Special Constable under the Nova Scotia Police Act for the Enforcement of Legislation and/or Municipal By-Laws.
MOTION CARRIED

7.7 Rotor Blades – Wastewater Treatment Plant, Church Point
The rotor blades at the Church Point Wastewater Treatment Plant must be replaced. The Municipality included the replacement of 12 blades in its 2021-22 Capital Budget, at a cost of $1,270 per blade (USD). During budget deliberations (April / May 2021), it was decided to temporarily delay the purchase of these blades, in anticipation of new provincial funding programs. Now October 2021, the unit price of these blades has increased three-fold, to $3,810 (USD). Given the importance of these blades to the ongoing operations of the Church Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Municipality can no longer delay this purchase. That being said, the CAO is recommending the Municipality purchase a set of 12 rotor blades from Lakeside Equipment Corporation in the amount of $61,374 (CAD), assuming an exchange rate of $0.79 and including an allowance of $3,000 for shipping and $500 for hardware. In the meantime, should any new potential funding programs be launched, the Municipality will make every effort to apply. Council agreed and passed the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend purchasing a set of 12 rotor blades for the wastewater treatment plant in Church Point from Lakeside Equipment Corporation in the amount of $ 57,874 plus HST, as well as an additional allowance of $3,000 for shipping and $500 for hardware, for a total of $61,374 plus HST, and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED

7.8 Brush Cutting on Farm Road Digby 101-11 Saulnierville Station
Councillor Carl Deveau was approached by a resident about brush cutting along the Farm Road Digby 101-11 in Saulnierville Station. The resident uses this road to access his woodlot and is currently unable to pass due to overgrown brush. He is requesting that the brush be cleared so that he may collect his firewood for the winter. The CAO will contact Nova Scotia Public Works in an effort to resolve this issue.

7.9 Comeauville Wharf Road
Councillor Carl Deveau received a call from Seacrest Fisheries expressing concern over the lack of a posted speed limit on the Comeauville Wharf Road, leading to individuals driving excessively fast. According to Councillor Deveau, other residents along this road have expressed similar concerns. In response to these concerns, Councillor Deveau is requesting that Council ask Nova Scotia Public Works to formerly assess the situation. After some discussion, Council suggested Councillor Deveau advise Seacrest to contact Nova Scotia Public Works directly with their concerns and request for an assessment. Doing so would result in a case file number being issued and would allow for easier tracking should the work not be completed, and the Municipality need to intervene.

7.10 Dangerous and Unsightly
Councillor Deveau has received a dangerous and unsightly complaint regarding a business on the Saulnierville Road. The CAO was previously aware of this complaint and already raised it with the Municipality’s Building Officials, both of whom agreed this business is not contravening the Dangerous and Unsightly Premises By-law. Rather, the issue at hand stems from a lack of zoning. The complainant also cited potential environmental violations leading to heath issues for neighboring residents. These claims have not been proven and should be referred by the complainant to Nova Scotia Environment, should he wish to pursue this further.   

7.11 Fire Inspection – Clare Search and Rescue Building
As part of the Municipality’s 2021-22 Capital Budget, $4,503 was allotted for repairs to the Clare Ground Search and Rescue Building. A subsequent inspection by the Municipality’s Fire Inspector identified other needed repairs and compliance issues. The cost to address all these issues has been estimated at roughly $25,000. The CAO is recommending these issues be dealt with in the current fiscal year. Council agreed. As such, a tender will be developed and issued in the coming weeks.  

7.12 Letter of Support – Belliveau Cove Development Commission
The Belliveau Cove Development Commission (BCDC) is looking for a letter of support as part of their fundraising efforts to purchase the Stella Maris, a 36-foot replica of a 17th century Dutch Royal Class Vessel. While the Municipality is supportive of the BCDC’s efforts to secure the vessel, it cannot guarantee that it will house it as part of the proposed re-development of the Joseph and Marie Dugas Park in Belliveau Cove. Doing so would be premature given the infancy of the project and the many unknowns that remain. This notwithstanding, the CAO is recommending Council issue a letter in support of the BCDC’s ongoing fundraising efforts as a show of good faith. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor 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 Belliveau Cove Development Commission in support of their ongoing fundraising efforts to purchase the Stella Maris, a 36-foot replica of a 17th century Dutch Royal Class Vessel.
MOTION CARRIED

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
Amy Paradis, a resident of Saulnierville, asked if a portion of the incremental funds raised by increasing the Deed Transfer Tax rate could be directed towards the implementation of the Municipality’s Housing Action Plan. The CAO thanked her for her question and agreed to consider the request. At present, implementation of the Housing Action Plan is being funded from the remaining project funds.

9) Closed Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
9.1 Contract Negotiations

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Philippe Gaudet that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on November 3, 2021, at 7:00 pm.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 pm.

Submitted by
Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant