FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

 

In the Matter of a Complaint by                        FINAL DECISION

 

Albert H. Trowbridge,

 

                        Complainant,

 

            against              Docket #FIC 89-460

 

Board of Education for Regional School District #12,

 

                        Respondent                  July 25, 1990

 

            The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case on April 16, 1990, at which time the complainant and the respondent appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint.  This case was consolidated for hearing with Docket ##'s FIC 89-449, 89-450, 89-451, 89-458, and 89-464.

 

            After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found and conclusions of law are reached:

 

            1.  The respondent is a public agency within the meaning of 1-18a(a), G.S.

 

            2.  By letter filed with the Commission on December 14, 1989, the complainant appealed to the Commission, alleging he had been denied access to the minutes of the respondent's November 13 and 20, 1989, meetings.

 

            3.  It is found that on December 11, 1989, the complainant requested in person at the respondent's central office copies of the minutes of the respondent's November 13, 1989, regular meeting and November 20, 1989, special meeting.

 

            4.  It is found that no minutes for those meetings were on file at the respondent's office.

 

            5.  It is concluded, therefore, that the respondent violated the 1-19(a), G.S., requirement to maintain a record of the proceedings of its meetings.

 

            6.  It is also concluded that the respondent violated the 1-21(a), G.S., requirement to have minutes available for public inspection within seven days of the meeting to which they refer.

 

Docket #FIC 89-460                           Page Two

 

            The following order of the Commission is hereby recommended on the basis of the complete record in the above-captioned complaint:

 

            1.  The respondent henceforth shall comply strictly with the minutes requirements of 1-19(a) and 1-21(a), G.S.

 

            2.  The respondent's members shall attend an educational workshop to be led by a Commission staff attorney within sixty days of the mailing of the notice of final decision in this case.

 

            3.  The respondent shall invite to attend the workshop, in writing, all administrative employees and officers of the towns comprising Regional School District #12.

 

Approved by order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of July 25, 1990.

 

                                                         

                                    Tina C. Frappier

                                    Acting Clerk of the Commission

 

Docket #FIC 89-460                           Page Three

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-180(c), G.S. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NAMES OF EACH PARTY AND THE MOST RECENT MAILING ADDRESS, PROVIDED TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION, OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.

 

THE PARTIES TO THIS CONTESTED CASE ARE:

ALBERT H. TROWBRIDGE

Old Litchfield Road

Washington, CT 06793

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT #12

c/o Michael E. Foley, Esq.

Shipman & Goodwin

799 Main Street

Hartford, CT 06103

 

                                                         

                                    Tina C. Frappier

                                    Acting Clerk of the Commission