Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 7:00 pm
Meeting held at 1185 Highway 1, Little Brook, NS

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

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

2)  Adoption of the Agenda

MOVED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the proposed agenda be approved as circulated.
MOTION CARRIED          

3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
Warden LeBlanc declared a conflict of interest with item 12.2 Motion to Approve Municipal Property Tax Write-Off – AAN #05755301.

4) Presentations
None.

5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 November 26, 2025 – Regular Council Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the minutes of the November 26, 2025, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

5.2 December 3, 2025 – Council-In-Committee Meeting

MOVED BY Councillor Steven Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the minutes of the December 3, 2025, Council-in-Committee Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED

6) Business Arising from Previous Meetings
None.

7) Warden’s Activity Report – Warden Yvon LeBlanc
December 3 – Met with representatives from l’Association Sainte-Marie héritage et développement for an update on their efforts to preserve the Sainte-Marie Building.

December 7 – Attended the Christmas tree lighting at the municipal office.

December 13 – Attended “Christmas in Havelock” activities at the Havelock Community Center.

December 14 – Participated in the Christmas Daddies Telethon.

8) Official Statements from Members of Council
None.

9) Correspondence
9.1 The Honourable John A. MacDonald – Minister of Municipal Affairs
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable John A. MacDonald, Minister of Municipal Affairs. (See attached)

9.2 The Honourable Kim Masland – Minister of Emergency Management
The CAO read a letter from the Honourable Kim Masland, Minister of Emergency Management. (See attached)

9.3 Gille Arseneau – Volleyball Coach, Université Sainte-Anne Dragons
The CAO read a letter from Gille Arseneau, Volleyball Coach for the Université Sainte-Anne Dragons. (See attached)

9.4 Mary Surette – Managing Director, Yarmouth Hospital Foundation
The CAO read a letter from Mary Surette, Managing Director for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation. (See attached)

10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the month of December. (See attached)

11) Committee Reports
None.

12)  New Business
12.1 Motion to Approve the Municipality of Clare’s 2025-2028 Accessibility Plan
The Accessibility Advisory Committee has met on several occasions since October as part of ongoing efforts to update the Municipality’s Accessibility Plan. To this end, an online survey coupled with several targeted stakeholder sessions and a larger public forum have been held to help inform the plan. Once approved by Council, the plan will be submitted to the Accessibility Directorate, as legislated under the Nova Scotia Accessibility Act. That said, Council made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the 2025-2028 Accessibility Plan for the Municipality of the District of Clare as presented.
MOTION CARRIED 

12.2 Motion to Approve Municipal Tax Write-Off – AAN 05755301
Warden LeBlanc recused himself. Deputy Warden Pothier chaired this portion of the meeting.

In 2021, following advice from a former municipal employee, the owner of the property in question opted to not pay his taxes. Taxes remain in arrears and the property is now slated for tax sale. The owner maintains he is not at fault in this case and despite staff’s best efforts to broker a solution, the issue remains unresolved. Should the property go to tax sale, it is the CAO’s belief that this conflict will escalate. Therefore, given the amount of staff time expensed thus far on this file and the Municipality’s inability to confirm exactly what was said in 2021 by its former employee, it is the CAO’s recommendation that the Municipality cut its losses and write-off the 2021-22 property tax arrears, effectively putting an end to this unfortunate misunderstanding. Council agreed and made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Carl Deveau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write off the 2021-22 municipal property tax arrears (and accumulated interest) for Assessment Account Number 05755301 in the amount of $2,198.05.
MOTION CARRIED 

With this item now concluded, Warden LeBlanc returned to chair the remainder of the meeting.

12.3 Motion to Approve Real Estate Transaction
The CAO was approached by a local resident proposing to exchange three privately held parcels of land on Major Point Road (PID’s #30042535, #30382337, and #30288039) for a municipally owned parcel on Mardigras Road (PID #30090047). Whereas the parcels on Major Point Road abut the Acadian Cemetery and Chapel, the CAO viewed this offer as being in the Municipality’s best interest, essentially preserving beach access and protecting an important tourism asset against the possibility of unwanted development on a neighboring property. Council agreed and made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Evans and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the proposed real estate transaction involving the exchange of three privately held parcels of land on Major Point Road (PID’s #30042535, #30382337, and #30288039) for a municipally owned parcel on Mardigras Road (PID #30090047).
MOTION CARRIED 

12.4 Motion to Approve Funding Request – Pool Renovation Project, Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne (US-A) is applying to the Province of Nova Scotia for $145,000 in funding to assist with needed renovations to the university pool. The total cost of the project is $216,000. As part of the proposed funding mix, US-A is requesting a municipal contribution of $60,000. Given that the pool is an important piece of recreational infrastructure which is used extensively by both the university and the community at large, Council passed the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve a contribution of $60,000 to Université Sainte-Anne in support of its pool renovation project, specifically the modernization of the pump room equipment and the replacement of the pipework around the pool.
MOTION CARRIED 

12.5 Sponsorship Request – Coldest Night of the Year, Shyft Youth Services
The CAO was approached by Shyft Youth Services regarding a sponsorship request for their Coldest Night of the Year event. The Municipality has sponsored this event in previous years, and it is the CAO’s recommendation that it does so once again. Council agreed and made the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the sponsorship request for SHYFT Youth Services in the amount of $500.
MOTION CARRIED 

12.6 Letter of Support – Climate Ready Infrastructure Service, Université Sainte-Anne
Université Sainte-Anne (US-A) is preparing to undertake a climate-resiliency and ventilation/HVAC modernization assessment for several key community-oriented buildings on its campus in Church Point. These buildings include the library, the theatre, the gymnasium, the pool, and the arena.  To offset the cost of this assessment, US-A is applying to the Climate Ready Infrastructure Services (CRIS) program and, as part of its application, is requesting a letter of support from the Municipality. Given that the buildings in question are used extensively by both the university and the community at large, Council passed the following motion:

PROPOSED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Steven Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare write a letter to Université Sainte-Anne in support of its application to the Climate Ready Infrastructure Service program (CRIS) for the evaluation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
MOTION CARRIED 

13) Closed Session

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

Topics Discussed
13.1 Contract Negotiations

PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that Council proceed to the Regular Council Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED

14) Date and Time of the Next Regular Council Meeting
The next Regular Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 7:00 pm.

15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 pm.

Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant