FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

 

In the Matter of a Complaint by                                         FINAL DECISION

 

Joseph E. Varisco,

 

            Complainant

 

                        against                                                       Docket #FIC 88‑78

 

State of Connecticut Department of Transportation and Assistant Attorney General Paige Everin,

 

            Respondents                                                         December 14, 1988

 

            The above‑captioned matter was scheduled but not heard as a contested case on April 19, 1988.  It was continued several times to June 14, 1988, July 12, 1988, August 30, 1988, and then to October 16, 1988.  At that time the parties appeared and presented evidence and argument on the complaint.  The case was consolidated with #FIC 88‑77, Diane Reed Sanford Anjone  v. State of Connecticut Department of Transportation and Assistant Attorney General Paige Everin, because the two cases concerned the same subject matter.

 

            After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found:

 

            1.         The respondents are public agencies within the meaning of §1‑18a(a), G.S.

 

            2.         By letter dated March 1, 1988, the complainant requested access to inspect (a) the complete files of the New Milford District Office of the respondent department pertaining to 96 Redding Road, Redding, Connecticut; (b) the complete files of the New Milford District Office pertaining to the Perkin‑Elmer Corporation property located at 100 Redding Road, Redding, Connecticut; and (c) the complete file pertaining to the Route 107 road construction project (#116‑98).

 

            3.         On or about March 1, 1988, the complainant was denied access to the requested records by the custodian of the records after consultation with other officials.

 

            4.         On March 7, 1988, the complainant filed his appeal.

 

            5.         At hearing the complainant stated that he did not seek a civil penalty against the respondents.

 

Docket #FIC 88‑78                                        page two

 

            6.         It is found that the respondents made all the records requested available to the complainant and his attorney approximately two weeks after the request was made.

 

            7.         The complainant alleges that the records were not provided within four days following the request, and that in any event the records were not provided promptly as required by §§1‑15 and 1‑19(a), G.S.

 

            8.         It is found that the requested records and files contained hundreds of pages and that they included construction files, drainage information, correspondence, photographs, maps, applications, submissions, and an encroachment permit.

 

            9.         The respondents claimed because the complainant has sympathized with difficulties Diane Reed Sanford Anjone has endured during the efforts of the Department of Transportation  to condemn her land, amd because Ms. Anjone filed a lawsuit seeking injunctive relief against the respondents, that some of the records might have been exempt from disclosure under §1‑19b(b), G.S.

 

            10.       It is found since the complainant is not a party to Ms. Anjone's lawsuit, that the records in question are not exempt from disclosure under §1‑19b(b), G.S.

 

            11.       The respondents claimed further that some of the requested records might have been exempt under §§1‑19(b)(4) and 1‑19(b)(7), G.S.

 

            12.       It is found that the respondent Everin could have instructed the custodian of the records to make most of the records available while retaining any possibly exempt files or records for his review.

 

            13.       It is found that §1‑21i(a), G.S., does not require the respondents to make the records available within four business days, but under that section, failure of the respondents to communicate when the records shall be made available, constitutes a denial of access.

 

            14.       It is found that the respondents failed to notify the complainant within four business days when the records would be available.

 

            15.       It is concluded that the respondents denied the complainant access to the requested records and failed to provide the requested records promptly as required by §§1‑15 and 1‑19(a), G.S.

 

Docket #FIC 88‑78                                    page three

 

            The following order by the Commission is hereby recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above‑captioned complaint.

 

            1.         The respondents shall henceforth provide access to records and files promptly as required by  §§1‑15 and 1‑19(a), G.S.

 

            Approved by order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its special meeting of December 14, 1988.

 

                                                                                                   

                                                                             Catherine H. Lynch

                                                                             Acting Clerk of the Commission