Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, January 18th, 2017 at 7:00 pm
PRESENT: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet; Councillors, Hector Thibault, Carl Deveau, Eric Pothier and Yvon LeBlanc
Staff: Director of Community Development/Acting CAO Pam Doucet, Administrative Assistant to the CAO
Public:
ABSENT: CAO Stéphane Cyr, Councillors: Danny Hill & Brian Comeau
1) Call to Order
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the Council Meeting to order at 7:10 pm due to technical difficulties.
2) (a) Approval of the Agenda
The Warden asked that the following items be added to the Agenda
11.6 Letter of support - l’Association des Acadiens Metis-Souriquois under New Business
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted changes.
MOTION CARRIED
(b) Declaration of conflict of interest
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc asked for any declarations of conflict of interest.
Councillor Carl Deveau declared he was in a conflict of interest regarding the point 11.6 Letter of support – l’Association des Acadiens Metis-Souriquois with respect to his involvement with the group.
3) Presentations
None.
4) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
4.1 December 21st, 2016: Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Minutes of December 21st, 2016 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
4.2 January 11th, 2017: Council-in-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that the Minutes of January 11th, 2017 be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
5) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
5.1 Code of Conduct - Municipal Council
The Warden mentioned that some Councillors had identified some items to be amended in the Code of Conduct. The CAO has made the proposed changes and the Municipal Solicitor has reviewed them. He then asked if Councillors were ready to adopt the new Code of Conduct. In the absence of the CAO and of Councillor Brian Comeau, who were most involved in the amendments. Council have decided to postpone the decision.
6) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
The Warden provided a summary of the meetings and events he attended since the last Council meeting.
December 22nd Christmas dinner with members of the sub-committee of the Doctor Recruitment Committee and students.
January 11th Meeting with Louis R Comeau to discuss the possibility of submitting a financial request to Municipal Council regarding a tourism project in St. Bernard.
January 11th Meeting of the selection committee for members on the Meadows Board of Directors. That meeting was part of the transition to establish a skills-based board.
January 14th Attented an announcement in Digby with Nova Scotia Premier, Stephen McNeil, Health Minister, Leo Glavine and our MLA Gordon Wilson. They have announced a six unit satellite dialysis unit at the Digby Hospital.
January 17th Meeting for rural broadband at the Municipality of Yarmouth with other municipalities and Cetas Advisory Inc. management team.
7) Official Statements from Members of Council
Councillor Eric Pothier congratulated Mr. James Aymar who celebrated his 100th Birthday on January 8th, 2017. A certificate will be sent on behalf of Council.
8) Correspondance
8.1 Letter from Belliveau Motors Ltd. - Duck Hunting
Director of Community Development/Acting CAO Pam Doucet read a letter from Belliveau Motors Ltd. regarding duck hunting. (See attached)
8.2 Letter from Rapure Acadienne Ltd. – Duck Hunting
Director of Community Development/Acting CAO Pam Doucet read a letter from Rapure Acadienne Ltd. regarding duck hunting. (See attached)
She then mentioned that the CAO has contacted MLA Gordon Wilson to inform him of the situation. Mr. Wilson asked for copies of both letters in order to investigate the matter further.
8.3 Letter from Facebook post – Lobster Shells
Director of Community Development/Acting CAO Pam Doucet read a private message received through the municipal Facebook page from a concerned resident, Stephanie Comeau, regarding the dumping of Lobster shells and rubber bands. (See attached)
Council suggested staff contact Wastecheck to visit the site and start an investigation.
9) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer - Stéphane Cyr
(See attached)
10) Committee Reports
10.1 Building Permits Report: Councillor Danny Hill
In the absence of Councillor Danny Hill, Deputy Warden Nil Doucet read the building permit report for the month of December.
December
Year Permits Construction Value
2015 8 $950,420
2016 8 $361,560
10.2 Planning Advisory Committee: Councillor Brian Comeau
No report.
10.3 Police Advisory: Deputy Warden Nil Doucet
Deputy Warden Nil Doucet read his report from the last meeting that was be held January 16th, 2017. (See attached)
10.4 Villa Acadienne: Councillor Brian Comeau
No report.
10.5 Waste Check: Councillor Carl Deveau
No report. The next meeting will be held February 13th, 2017
11) New Business
11.1 Motion to accept the proposed revisions to the salary and term of the VIC Manager position at the Rendez-Vous de la Baie
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc that Council of the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the proposed revisions to the salary and term of the VIC Manager position at the Rendez-Vous de la Baie.
MOTION CARRIED
11.2 Motion to approve the additional cost for the mapping of the four remaining watersheds within the municipality
MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet that Council of Municipality of the District of Clare comfirm the approval of $6,640 + HST in additional cost for the mapping of the four remaining watersheds within the Municipality, namely Meteghan, Tusket, Bonaventure and Salmon River.
MOTION CARRIED
11.3 Motion to appoint an alternate on the WREN Liaison & Oversight Committee
MOVED BY Deputy Warden and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that Council of the Municipality of the District of Clare appoint Councillor Yvon LeBlanc as the alternate on the Western Regional Enterprise Network's Liaison and Oversight Committee.
MOTION CARRIED
11.4 Motion to accept the municipality of Barrington’s request for WREN membership
MOVED BY Councillor Yvon LeBlanc and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the Municipality of Barrington's request for WREN membership.
MOTION CARRIED
11.5 Motion for a contribution towards the proposed Clare 250th project
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Eric Pothier that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute $25,000 towards the proposed Clare 250th project
MOTION CARRIED
11.6 Letter of support for the Association des acadiens Metis-Souriquois
The Warden read a letter received from the Association acadiens des Metis-Souriquois requesting a letter of support from the Municipality for the hiring of an administrative assistant for their association.
A letter has been prepared and signed by the Warden. (See attached)
12) In Camera Session
None
13) Date and time of the next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on February 15th, 2017 at 7:00 pm.
14) Adjournment
MOVED BY Deputy Warden Nil Doucet to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 pm.
Submitted by:
Alain Poirier,
Administrative Assistant of the CAO