FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

In the Matter of a Complaint by Final Decision

Carla C. Woodcock,

Complainant

against Docket #FIC 92-178

South Windsor Town Manager,

Respondent January 19, 1993

The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case on November 24, 1992, at which time the complainant 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 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 this Commission on May 28, 1992, the complainant alleged that the respondent violated the provisions of the FOI Act by failing to comply with her request for copies of the legal bills submitted by Siegal, O'Connor, Schiff, Zangari and Kainen, P.C., for services to benefit Marcia Banach in a pending defamation action.

3. It is found that the documents identified in paragraph 2, above, are public records within the meaning of 1-18a(d), G.S.

4. It is found that the respondent's April 30, 1992 letter of response to the complainant failed to fully comply with the complainant's document request.

5. It is found that the respondent fully complied with the complainant's request for public records at some time in November, 1992.

6. It is concluded that although the respondent eventually provided the complainant with those records in its possession as identified in paragraph 2, above, it nonetheless violated the provisions of 1-19(a), G.S., by failing to promptly comply with the request.

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

Docket #FIC 92-178 Page 2

complaint.

1. Henceforth the respondent shall strictly comply with the provisions of 1-19(a), G.S.

Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its special meeting of January 15, 1993.

Debra L. Rembowski

Acting Clerk of the Commission

Docket #FIC 92-178 Page 3

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:

Carla C. Woodcock

c/o Atty. John J. Woodcock

395 Buckland Road

P.O. Box 684

South Windsor, CT 06074

South Windsor Town Manager

c/o Atty. Ralph Alexander

Brady, Willard & Alexander

330 Roberts Street

East Hartford, CT 06108

Debra L. Rembowski

Acting Clerk of the Commission