Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
PRESENTS: Council: Warden Ronnie LeBlanc; Deputy Warden Brian Comeau; Councillors Russell Comeau, Lester Doucet, Nil Doucet, Danny Hill, Hector Thibault and Robert Thibault. Staff: Chief Administrative Officer Connie Saulnier, and Administrative Assistant to the CAO, Alain Poirier.
Public: few residents
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1) CALL TO ORDER
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc called the Council Meeting to order at 7 :00 pm.
2) (a) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The Agenda was reviewed.
MOVED BY Councillor Hector Thibault and SECONDED BY Councillor Hector Thibault that proposed Agenda be approved as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
(b) DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc asked for any declarations of conflict of interest from the floor.
NONE DECLARED
3) PRESENTATIONS
Certificates
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc presented a certificate to two residents of Clare who have worked very hard for the Rails to Trails project, Mr Léo LeBlanc and Mr.Harvey Doucet.
Mr Robert Theriault president of the Rails to Trails Committee, thanked the municipality for having invited them at the meeting, and to have recognized the hard work that these two gentlemen did for Rails to Trails. Mr Theriault mentioned that in a near future, he wants to approach the Municipality of Clare to name the trail in honor of Mr Doucet and Mr LeBlanc as, the “Doucet-LeBlanc Trail”. A gift was given to them by Mr Theriault.
Badges
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc presented the new badges to fire chiefs and deputy chiefs of the following Clare Fire departments :
Mr Paul Thibault - Deputy Chief for the Saint-Bernard Fire Station
Mr Earl Deveau - Fire Chief for the Salmon River Fire Station
Mr Matthew Mullen - Deputy Chief for the Salmon River Fire Station
Mr Laurie Moses - Fire Chief for the Havelock Fire Station
Mr Nathan Sabean - Deputy Chief for the Havelock Fire Station
Mr Paul Mullen - Deputy Chief for the Southville Fire Station
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc presented a certificate to Mr Jean Vacon for his 32 years of service as a firefighter for the Salmon River Fire Station. For personal reasons, Mr Vacon was not able to attend the meeting so the Fire Chief of the Salmon River Fire Station accepted the certificate on his behalf.
Human Rights Commission
Mrs Tracy William, AO of the Human Rights Commission explained the importance to keep good relations between the surrounding community, and mentioned the importance of the commission and all the changes that the Commission has made in the last years.
Beach cleaning report
Mrs Monette Robichaud present a report regarding the cleaning of the beach. The C.O.R.D.group cleaned the differents beaches in Clare, including : Belliveau Cove, Church Point, Comeauville, Saulnierville, Meteghan and Salmon River. The group started the work in July 2014 and ha dit all done in November of 2014. They picked up over 2,500 pounds of garbage. Mrs Robichaud would like to thanks the municipality of Clare for the financial contribution and is really proud of the work that have done with the money. Councillor Lester Doucet thanked them for the excellent work they did in the community
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc congratulated Mrs Robichaud for her excellent initiative.
4) ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS
4.1 May 20, 2015 Regular Council Meeting
May 20, 2015 Regular Council Meeting minutes were reviewed
It was noted that there were no errors or omissions.
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Lester Doucet that the Minutes of May 20, 2015, be accepted as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
4.2 June 3rd, 2015
There was no Council-in-Committee meeting.
5) BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS
5.1 There was no business arising to discuss.
6) WARDEN'S ACTIVITY REPORT - Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc listed the meetings and events he attented since the last Council meeting
May 26th: Dinner at the municipality of Digby, WREN (Western Regional Enterprise
Network
June 2nd: Meeting of ‘‘Liaison & Oversight Committee’’
June 4th-8th Meeting in Edmonton Alberta, for the Canadian Municipality Federation
June 9th: A.G.M of CDÉNÉ in Halifax
June 12th: Meeting with Gilles Babin, BRE (Business Retention & Expansion).
June 13th : Diner for Dr. Lionel d’Entremont
June 14th : Opened House at the Legion in Saulnierville for Dr. Lionel d’Entremont.
June 16th: Meeting with a delegation from NB.
7) OFFICIAL STATEMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
Warden Ronnie LeBlanc mentioned that a letter will be sent to the new business in Clare, “Sip Café’’, to wish them good luck.
Councillor Nil Doucet mentioned that the weekly events Les Beaux vendredi will start on Friday June 26th. In Belliveau Cove.
Deputy Warden Brian Comeau mentioned that there will have activities at Smugler Cove for the Canada Day celebrations on July 1st.
8) CORRESPONDENCE
8.1 Letter from the Fire Chief of Havelock Fire Station
The Havelock Fire Department would like to have funding to purchase a Porta Pottie and 2 garbage cans to be used by the children while playing hockey on the pavement beside the Fire Station.
The request will be sent to the recreation department for consideration.
9) C.A.O. Report – Chief Administrative Officer Connie Saulnier
The Chief Administrative Officer Connie Saulnier presented her report (see attached).
10) COMMITTEE REPORTS
10.1 Building Permits Reports: Councillor Danny Hill
Councillor Danny Hill presented the building permits reports for the month of May from the department of building inspection.
Year Permit Construction Value
2014 21 1 736 480$
2015 15 1 002 109$
10.2 Clare Economic Development Committee – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
Note: Following the organizational review conducted by the Municipality of Clare, the Clare Economic Development Committee, the Recreation Committee and the Tourism Committee are in the process of being regrouped under one committee, named the Community Development Committee. There were no reports from the Committee.
10.3 Communication Committee – Warden Ronnie LeBlanc
No report
10.4 Planning Advisory Committee – Councillor Danny Hill
No report
10.5 Recreation Committee – Councillor Nil Doucet
See 10.2
10.6 Tourism Committee – Councillor Robert Thibault
See 10.2
10.7 Villa acadienne – Deputy Warden Brian Comeau
No report
10.8 Waste Check – Councillor Robert Thibault
No report
11) New Business
11.1 Municipal Funding for Improving Atlantic salmon Habitat- Councillor Robert Thibault
A found of $ 30,000,000.00 has been established by the government of Canada to fund various projects. Pam Doucet was instructed to contact the Meteghan River Salmon Association to make them aware of the funding.
11.2 Motion to transfer Gas Tax Funds.
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Russel Comeau that the Municipality of the District of Clare transfer the amount of $225,708.79 and $121,579.00 in Federal Gas Tax Funds from the Capital Reserve Fund to the General Operating Fund to cover eligible expenses under the Gas Tax Program.
MOTION CARRIED
11.3 Motion to Award the Belliveau Cove WastewaterTreatment Plant PLC and computer upgrade.
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare accept the tendered bid in the amount of $38,025.18 ($33,065.38 plus $4,959.80 HST) as submitted by KRC Industrial Controls and Automation Limited on June 11th, 2015 for a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and Computer Upgrade at the Belliveau Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant.
MOTION CARRIED
11.4 Burglars in the Municipality of Clare
Councillor Robert Thibault mentioned that Warden Ronnie LeBlanc is continuously in communication with the RCMP regarding the break and enter that is currently happening in the Municipality of Clare. It would be good if every resident of Clare started to keep an eye on any activity suspicious in nature.
12) CLOSED SESSION
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Brian Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Russel Comeau that Council proceed to an In Camera Session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topic discussed: Fire Dept 5-yr capital plan, land acquisition, internet mail use and personnel issue.
PROPOSED BY Councillor Russel Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nil Doucet that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
13) DATE AND TIME OF NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The next Council meeting will be held on July 15, 2015 at 7PM.
14) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nil Doucet the adjournment of the meeting at 8:54 PM
Submited by
Alain Poirier,
Administrative Assistant of the CAO