FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
In the Matter of a Complaint
by FINAL
DECISION
Douglas M. Dingee and
Greenwich Fire Fighters Local 1042,
Complainants,
against Docket
#FIC 88-4
Chief, Greenwich Fire
Department,
Respondent April
13, 1988
The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case
on February 19, 1988, at which time the complainants and the respondent
appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and
argument on the complaint.
After consideration of the entire record, the following
facts are found:
1. The respondent
is a public agency within the meaning of §1-18a(a), G.S.
2. By letter
dated December 1, 1987, the complainants requested that the respondent provide
them with copies of:
a. a list of certified volunteer officers and
their certification documents,
b. or, if no such records existed, a letter
stating so.
3. Alleging the
denial of their request, the complainants appealed to the Commission by letter
dated December 24, 1987, and filed with the Commission on January 1, 1988.
4. At the
hearing, the respondent claimed that it did not have the records in question,
but agreed with the complainants' contention that it should. The
respondent also stated it was working to obtain the records and agreed
that when they are received they should be disclosed to the complainants and
the public.
5. It is found
that the respondent did not have the records in question when the complainants
requested them.
6. It is also
found, however, that the respondent did not respond to the complainants'
request in writing within four
Docket #FIC 88-4 Page
Two
business days of its
receipt.
7. It is
concluded, therefore, that the respondent violated §1-21i(a), G.S.
The following order by the Commission is hereby
recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above-captioned
complaint:
1. The respondent
henceforth shall act in strict compliance with §1-21i(a), G.S.
2. The respondent
shall provide the complainant with copies of the records described in paragraph
2a, above, forthwith upon receiving them.
Approved by order of the Freedom of Information
Commission at its regular meeting of April 13, 1988.
Catherine
H. Lynch
Acting
Clerk of the Commission