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Municipality of the District of Clare
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, September 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, Danny Hill, Réanne Cooper, Carl Deveau, and Nadine Comeau
Staff: CAO, Stéphane Cyr, Executive Assistant, Ashley Hanks, and Director of Finance, Christien Deveau
Presenters: Jasmine Thibodeau and Gloria Banks, Doane Grant Thornton LLP
ABSENT:
1) Call to Order
The Warden called the Council meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2) Adoption of the Agenda
The CAO asked that the following item to be added to the agenda:
- 9.3 Denise Comeau Desautels - President, Bangor Development Commission
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the proposed agenda be approved with the above noted addition.
MOTION CARRIED
3) Declaration of Conflict of Interest
None.
4) Presentations
4.1 2024-2025 Audited Financial Statements – Jasmine Thibodeau and Gloria Banks, Doane Grant Thornton LLP
Jasmine Thibodeau of Doane Grant Thornton LLP presented the Municipality’s audited financial statements for the 2024-2025 fiscal year (See attached).
5) Adoption of the Minutes from Previous Council Meetings
5.1 July 23, 2025 – Regular Council Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper that the minutes of the July 23, 2025, Regular Council Meeting be accepted as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
5.3 September 3, 2025 – Council-In-Committee Meeting
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Cooper and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the minutes of the September 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
July 25 – Attended a funding announcement for the Electric City / La Nouvelle France Society.
July 26 – Attended the opening for the 70th Festival acadien de Clare.
July 27 – Participated in the Festival acadien de Clare parade.
July 31 – Attended an evening event to thank the sponsors of the Belliveau Motors Golf Tournament, an important fundraiser for the Clare Health Center.
August 1 – Attended the Belliveau Motors Golf Tournament.
August 15 – Attended the raising of the Acadian flag at the Rendez-vous d'la Baie.
August 15 - Attended the first edition of the Cultural Expo, which included cooking demonstrations showcasing Acadian cuisine, music, dancing, cultural presentations, and a trade show featuring more than thirty exhibitors, artisans, and local businesses.
September 3 – Attended a meeting with Ray Trahan and his wife to discuss the 2025 Grand Réveil Acadien in Louisiana.
September 9 – Attended a meeting with the Honorable Becky Druhan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, to discuss the provincial police services review.
September 11 – Attended a meeting of the Audit Committee to review the Municipality’s financial statements for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
September 14 – Attended the start of the Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie.
8) Official Statements from Members of Council
None.
9) Correspondence
9.1 Allister Surette – Président, Comité organisateur du CMA 2024
The CAO read a letter from Allister Surette, President of the Comité organisateur du CMA 2024. (
See attached)
9.2 Paul Auffrey et Walter Comeau – Les Voyages Positifs Ltée.
The CAO read a letter from Paul Auffrey and Walter Comeau of Les Voyages Positifs Ltée. (See attached)
The CAO spoke with the Community Development Department and going forward, they will be able to accommodate this request.
9.3 Denise Comeau-Desautels - President, Bangor Development Commission
The CAO read a letter from Denise Comeau-Desautels, President of the Bangor Development Commission. (See attached)
10) CAO Report – Chief Administrative Officer – Stéphane Cyr
The CAO presented his report for the months of August and September. (See attached)
11) Committee Reports
11.1 Audit Committee – Councillor Danny Hill
The Audit Committee met with the auditors (Doane Grant Thornton LLP) on September 11, 2025, to review the Municipality’s 2024-2025 audited financial statements.
During this meeting, the auditors highlighted the Municipality’s sound financial position as well as the cooperation they received from both management and staff throughout their audit engagement. The auditors once again gave the Municipality a clean audit opinion. In light of this opinion, the Audit Committee is making the following two recommendations for Council’s consideration:
- That the annual operating surplus of $785,203 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year be transferred from the Operating Fund to the Operating Reserve.
- That the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the 2024-2025 audited financial statements for the Municipality of the District of Clare, as prepared by Doane Grant Thornton LLP.
11.2 Waste Check – Councillor Carl Deveau
The Waste Check Committee met on September 16, 2025.
To compensate for increased demand and aging inventory, Waste Check has placed its fourth order of green bins this year. The cost of this order was in excess of $120,000. It should be noted that these bins are no longer being ordered from the United States and are now being sourced in Quebec.
The draft EPR contracts (as drafted by Circular Materials) are under review. Of the 49 municipal units across Nova Scotia, 3 municipalities have opted out of the proposed EPR program. The remaining 46 municipal units (including the Municipality of Clare) are currently reviewing the draft contracts and analyzing impacts on current operations. To date, no municipal unit has signed on with Circular Materials.
Lastly, Councillor Deveau would like to remind residents that all cans of paint, whether empty or containing some residual paint, can be disposed of at the Enviro Depot in Meteghan Centre. In order to be recycled, cans must have their covers and labels.
12) New Business
12.1 Motion to Transfer from the Operating Fund to the Operating Reserve
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Danny Hill that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare transfer the annual operating surplus of $785,203 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year from the Operating Fund to the Operating Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED
12.2 Motion to Approve the 2024-2025 Audited Financial Statements
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare approve the 2024-2025 audited financial statements for the Municipality of the District of Clare, as prepared by Doane Grant Thornton LLP.
MOTION CARRIED
12.3 Motion to Award Tender – 8478 Highway 1, Sanitary Services
A tender for the expansion of the Meteghan sewer system at 8478 Highway 1 was issued with a closing date of August 14, 2025. This planned expansion will enable the development of new, much needed housing units in the Meteghan area. A total of five bids were received. Following a review of the bids by both the project engineer and the CAO, it is recommended that Council accept the bid from Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd. in the amount of $73,959 plus HST. Council agreed and made the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare award the tender for 8478 Highway 1 Sanitary Services to Deveau’s Dirtworks Ltd. in the amount of $73,959 plus HST and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Capital Reserve.
MOTION CARRIED
12.4 Motion to Appoint Community Representatives – Police Advisory Board
With Jocelyne LeBlanc’s term having expired, and John Chant having submitted his resignation, there are currently two vacancies on the Municipality’s Police Advisory Board. To fill these vacancies, a call for expressions of interest (EOI) was launched on July 24th on both Facebook and in the Clare Shopper. The deadline for application was set for August 22, 2025. A total of ten applications were received. Following a review of these applications, it is the recommendation of the Police Advisory Board members that Council appoint Claude Belliveau and Isaac Comeau to the Board. Council agreed and made 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 appoint Claude Belliveau and Issac Comeau to the Municipality’s Police Advisory Board.
MOTION CARRIED
12.5 Motion to Send Letter – Water Bomber Planes
With forest fires becoming a more common occurrence throughout Nova Scotia, Councillor Danny Hill is recommending Council send a letter to the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources, advocating for the purchase of water bomber planes to build the province’s airborne firefighting capacity. Council agreed and made the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Councillor Danny Hill and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare send a letter to the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources, advocating for the purchase of water bomber planes to build the province’s airborne firefighting capacity.
MOTION CARRIED
12.6 Motion to Approve Funding Contribution – Bangor Development Commission
On September 3, 2025, the Bangor Development Commission approached Council for financial assistance for what it qualified as needed repairs to the dam located at the site of the former Bangor Sawmill and Museum. Following this presentation, the CAO determined that the group’s funding request was eligible for funding under the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations program. Furthermore, given the urgency of the request, the CAO recommended Council authorize a contribution of $10,000 for the needed repairs. Council agreed and passed the following motion:
PROPOSED BY Deputy Warden Eric Pothier and SECONDED BY Councillor Carl Deveau that the Council for the Municipality of the District of Clare contribute $10,000 to the Bangor Development Commission for needed repairs to the dam located at the site of the former Bangor Sawmill and Museum and that these funds be taken from the Municipality’s Grants to Organizations program.
MOTION CARRIED
13) Closed Session
PROPOSED BY Councillor Nadine Comeau and SECONDED BY Councillor Réanne Evans that Council proceed to the Closed Session.
MOTION CARRIED
Topics discussed
13.1 Acquisition and Sale of Municipal Property
13.2 Personnel Matters
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, October 15, 2025, at 7:00 pm.
15) Adjournment
MOVED BY Councillor Réanne Evans to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 pm.
Submitted by:
Ashley Hanks
Executive Assistant