Municipality of the District of Clare
COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook

PRESENT: Council: Warden Yvon LeBlanc, Deputy Warden Eric Pothier, Councillors Réanne Evans, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, Communications Officer, Anique Dugas
Presenters:
ABSENT: Councillors Danny Hill and Brian Comeau

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

2) Approval of the Agenda
The CAO asked that the following item be added to the agenda:

• 7.6 Fire Departments - Purchase of Side-by-Side

MOVED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted addition.
MOTION CARRIED

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest.
None.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Staff Reports  
None.

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

7) NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Capital Budget 2025-26
The CAO presented a working draft of the Municipality’s capital budget for fiscal 2025-2026. Specific investments include the Clare Veterans Centre, accessible washrooms for the Joseph and Marie Dugas Park, necessary upgrades to the Municipal Office and the Clare Health Centre, as well as continued investments in wastewater infrastructure.

Whereas the CAO was still awaiting confirmation on a few capital items, no motion to recommend was requested of Council.

7.2 Fire Departments – Capital Funding 2025-26
The CAO presented the proposed 2025-2026 capital funding allocations for each of the seven fire departments within the Municipality (see attached). The total amount available this year for equipment, as generated by the uniform $0.05 area rate, is $220,000. Council agreed with the proposed distribution of funds 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 approving the proposed 2025-2026 Volunteer Fire Department Capital Funding Expenditures as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

7.3 Fire Services Review
Both the CAO and Council met with Lyle Quan of Emergency Management Group (EMG) earlier today. The purpose of the meeting was to provide Council with the opportunity to ask any remaining questions or offer any final comments they may have regarding the fire services review. With this latest meeting with EMG now concluded, Council made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend adopting the 2025 Fire Services Review as prepared by Emergency Management Group.
MOTION CARRIED

7.4 Centre Communautaire d’la Baie Sainte-Marie
The CAO was advised that the Meteghan Lions Club has rebranded itself as the Centre Communautaire d’la Baie Sainte-Marie. Despite this rebranding, the organization’s mandate of bettering the community and helping those in need remains unchanged.

During this same discussion, the CAO was asked as to the possibility of a tax exemption. To clarify, the organization already receives a partial exemption but is requesting something more substantial. The CAO presented 3 possible options for Council consideration. At the request of Council, these will be elaborated upon further and formally presented at the May 21, 2025, Regular Meeting of Council, with a focus on both recognizing the group’s many contributions to the community and fairness to other groups with similar mandates.

7.5 Appointment of Investigator - Municipal Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct for Municipal Elected Officials requires each municipal unit to appoint an investigator(s) to deal with prospective complaints submitted under the code. In order to facilitate this task, the AMANS has established a list of qualified investigators, following a request for qualification process that closed on January 17, 2025. Having reviewed the list, it is the recommendation of the CAO that Council appoint Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP and Burchell MacDougall LLP. Council agreed and made the following motion to recommend:

PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare recommend appointing Burchell Wickwire Bryson LLP and Burchell MacDougall LLP as its investigators, as required per the Code of Conduct for Municipal Elected Officials Regulations.
MOTION CARRIED

7.6 Fire Departments - Purchase of Side-by-Side
The CFFA (acting on behalf of the Municipality’s 7 volunteer fire departments) has requested the Municipality purchase a side-by-side to bolster the list of equipment available to the local fire service. Among other things, the side-by-side would be used to access rough terrain, get equipment to isolated or hard to reach locations, and to extract firefighters or members of the public. Council sees much value in this purchase (given the aforementioned uses) and after much discussion on this issue, tasked the CFFA with providing detailed quotes for the side-by-side and clarification regarding insurance requirements and training. The CFFA, in conjunction with the local fire chiefs, have since provided the necessary information. Furthermore, they have all agreed that the side-by-side will be located at the Meteghan Firehall. Considering this, the CAO is recommending Council proceed with the purchase as requested. 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 approving up to $49,076 plus HST for the purchase of a side-by-side ATV (and related equipment) for the Municipality’s volunteer fire services. 
MOTION CARRIED

8) Questions and Comments from the Public
None

9) Closed Session

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that Council proceed to closed session.
MOTION CARRIED

Topics Discussed:
9.1 Acquisition and Sale of Municipal Property
9.2 Contract Negotiations

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau 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 June 4, 2025, at 7:00 pm.

10) Adjournment
PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting at 8:51 pm.

Submitted by
Ashley Hanks,
Executive Assistant