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Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook
PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, and Communications Officer, Anique Dugas
Presenters: Dave Doucette and Shawn Craven, CFFA
ABSENT: Councillor Réanne Evans
1) Call to Order
The Warden called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) Approval of the Agenda
The CAO ask that the following revision be made to the agenda.
- Item 7.6 should be corrected to read Lakeview Court
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill 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.
4) Presentations
4.1 Clare Firefighters Association (CFFA) – Dave Doucette and Shawn Craven.
Dave Doucette and Shawn Craven of the Clare Firefighters Association presented an overview of the call totals per department from January to April 2025, as well as a summary of the Association’s activities since their February 2025 presentation to Council. (
See attached).
5) Staff Reports
5.1 Financial Update – Stéphane Cyr, Chief Administrative Officer
The CAO provided an overview of the Municipality’s financial position. (See attached)
6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.
7) NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Interim Funding – Société historique de la Baie Sainte-Marie
The Municipality has been working with the Société historique de la Baie Sainte-Marie on its project to improve the aesthetics of the Acadian Chapel and Cemetery on Major’s Point and to make the site more resilient to the effects of climate change, coastal flooding and storm surge. Funding for this project was granted in part under the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund and includes a 25% holdback on all project costs. The size of this holdback (25%) has created a short-term cash flow issue for the Société and temporarily hindered its ability to pay the remaining costs associated with this project. The project is now substantially complete, with the final completion expected in September 2025. In order to alleviate these cash flow pressures and bring this project to fruition, given its importance to the Municipality’s tourism product offerings, the CAO is proposing the Municipality provide bridge funding to the Société in the amount of $12,052, to be repaid in September 2025 or when the 25% holdback is released and funds are received. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend providing interim funding to the Société historique de la Baie Sainte-Marie in the amount of $12,052 to alleviate cash flow pressures involving its Acadian Cemetery and Chapel project, until such time as the mandatory 25% holdback, imposed under the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund, is released.
MOTION CARRIED
7.2 Procurement Policy
The Municipality’s procurement policy was adopted in 2016 and has not been revised since. With the ever-increasing costs of goods, services and construction, the directives put in place in 2016 as part of this policy have failed to keep up and now require the Municipality to go to public tender via the Province’s procurement website, for an inordinate number of purchases and/or contracts, leading to inefficiencies in the procurement process. In order to counter these inefficiencies, the CAO is proposing the procurement directives contained in the Municipality’s current policy be amended to allow for the better use of quotes (minimum of 3) and invitational tenders. The CAO also explained that several other municipal units are considering similar changes for the reasons cited herein. Council agreed with the proposed policy revisions and passed the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the proposed amendments to its Procurement Policy as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED
7.3 Municipal Per Diem Rates
The per diem rates for Council and staff were last revised in 2021. Since then, costs related to travel have steadily increased and established allowances have failed to keep up. As a result, several municipal units have been adjusting their per diem rates upwards. When compared to other municipal units, the Municipality of Clare’s current per diem rate of $70 is low and often insufficient to cover the cost of meals (especially when training, conferences, etc., are held in urban centres). As such, the CAO is recommending the Municipality increase its per diem rate to $85. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend increasing its per diam rates effective August 1, 2025, from $70 to $85, and broken down as follows:
- Breakfast $20
- Lunch $25
- Supper $40
MOTION CARRIED
7.4 Road Naming Request – Diamond Drive
The Municipality was approached to name a private road. The road in question only impacts one parcel of land which is owned by the individual making the request. The proposed name is compliant with the Municipality’s Road Naming Policy. As such, the CAO and staff are recommending Council proceed with the road naming as requested. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the road naming request for the road located on PID (Property Identification Number) listed below, as follows:
In English: Diamond Drive
In French: Allée diamant
|
30033575 |
MOTION CARRIED
7.5 Road Naming Request – Red Maple Drive
The Municipality was approached to name a private road. The road in question only impacts one parcel of land which is owned by the individual making the request. The proposed name is compliant with the Municipality’s Road Naming Policy. As such, the CAO and staff are recommending Council proceed with the road naming as requested. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the road naming request for the road located on PID (Property Identification Number) listed below, as follows:
In English: Red Maple Drive
In French: Allée des érables rouges
|
30070395 |
MOTION CARRIED
7.6 Road Naming Request – Lakeview Court
The Municipality was approached to name a private road. Subsequently, letters were sent to the three property owners along this road asking whether they approved of the name that had been put forward for consideration. All three were in favor of the proposed name – Lakeview Court / Cour Lakeview. Whereas the proposed name meets the requirements of the Municipality’s Road Naming Policy, Council made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the road naming request for the road shared by the PIDs (Property Identification Number) listed below, as follows:
In English: Lakeview Court
In French: Cour Lakeview
|
30106660 |
30384648 |
30384630 |
MOTION CARRIED
7.7 Road Naming Request – Lakeview Lane
The Municipality was approached to name a private road. Subsequently, letters were sent to the three property owners along this road asking whether they approved of the name that had been put forward for consideration. All three were in favor of the proposed name – Lakeview Lane / Ruelle Lakeview. Whereas the proposed name meets the requirements of the Municipality’s Road Naming Policy, Council made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the road naming request for the road shared by the PIDs (Property Identification Number) listed below, as follows:
In English: Lakeview Lane
In French: Ruelle Lakeview
|
30106660 |
30384648 |
30384630 |
MOTION CARRIED
7.8 Road Naming Request – Dwayne Lane
The Municipality was approached to name a private road. Subsequently, letters were sent to the seven property owners along this road asking whether they approved of the name that had been put forward for consideration. Five (or 71%) stated they were in favor of the proposed name – Dwayne Lane / Ruelle Dwayne, while the remaining 2 property owners did not reply. Whereas the proposed name meets the requirements of the Municipality’s Road Naming Policy, Council made the following motion to recommend:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend approving the road naming request for the road shared by the PIDs (Property Identification Number) listed below, as follows:
In English: Dwayne Lane
In French: Ruelle Dwayne
|
30316087 |
30088322 |
30089098 |
30089098 |
30088215 |
30088330 |
30088108 |
30088231 |
|
30088223 |
30377642 |
30088116 |
MOTION CARRIED
8) Questions and Comments from the Public
None.
9) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics Discussed:
9.1 Contract Negotiations
9.2 Personnel Matters
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
PROPOSED by Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend passing a temporary borrowing resolution with a request to borrow a sum not exceeding $3,300,000 for purposes of capital borrowing related to the construction of the new Clare Veterans Centre.
MOTION CARRIED
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend adding $10,000 for by-law enforcement, as part of its 2025-26 operating budget.
MOTION CARRIED
9) Date and time of the next Council-in-Committee Meeting
The next Council-in-Committee Meeting will be held on September 3, 2025, at 7:00 pm.
10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 pm.
Submitted by:
Anique Dugas
Communications Officer