FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

 

In the Matter of a Complaint by                        Final Decision

 

Louis Affinito,

 

                        Complainant

 

            against              Docket #FIC 92-250 and Docket #FIC 92-267

 

Hamden Board of Ethics,

 

                        Respondent                  July 14, 1993

 

            The above-captioned matters were consolidated and heard as contested cases on March 8 and March 12, 1993, at which times the complainant and the respondent appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint.  The above-captioned matters were also consolidated with Docket #FIC 92-271, John Carusone against Hamden Board of Ethics, and Docket #FIC 92-286, John Carusone against Hamden Board of Ethics.

 

            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 of complaint filed July 30, 1992 and assigned Docket #FIC 92-250, the complainant appealed to the Commission, alleging that the respondent did not respond to his requests for certain documents.

 

            3.         By letter of complaint filed August 20, 1992 and assigned Docket #FIC 92-267, the complainant again appealed to the Commission, alleging certain improprieties at the respondent's August 4, 1992 meeting to discuss an ethics complaint in executive session, and at certain hearings of the respondent.

 

            4.         At the hearing, the complainant did not pursue the matters referenced in Docket #FIC 92-267, and that complaint is therefore deemed withdrawn.

 

            5.         It is found that the complainant, beginning on June 10, 1992, requested copies of documents connected with an ethics complaint filed against him, known as complaint #90-3.

 

            6.         It is found that certain documents were provided to the complainant on July 28, 1992.

 

Docket #FIC 92-250 & Docket #FIC 92-267                         Page 2

 

            7.         It is found that among the documents provided on July 28, 1992 was a document captioned "Attachments," which listed and briefly described 40 documents connected with the ethics complaint #90-3.

 

            8.         It is found that by letter dated July 30, 1992, the complainant requested copies of the documents listed on the list of "Attachments" that had not been transmitted to him on July 28, as well a copy of any complaints submitted against him, the identity of the complainant, information as to whom the investigator conferred with, and any written statements.

 

            9.         It is found that the respondent did not provide the complainant with copies of the requested documents.

 

            10.       After the hearing, the respondent provided the Commission, for in camera inspection, copies of all of the documents that the respondent and its investigator had in their possession related to the respondent's case #90-3.

 

            11.       It is found that the documents, numbered by the Commission as in camera documents 92-250-1 through 92-250-129 are a collection of memoranda, letters, newspaper articles, budget documents and other financial records, and minutes and other records of meetings.

 

            12.       It is found that the bulk of the documents not provided to the complainant consist of memoranda and letters between members of the Hamden town council and the town administration, regarding a dispute about the transfer of monies and personnel between town agencies, and records of meetings at which that issue was discussed.

 

            13.       It is found that the documents referenced in paragraph 11, above, are records of the respondent's investigation of the complainant.

 

            14.       It is concluded that the documents referenced in paragraph 11, above, are public records within the meaning of 1-18a(d) and 1-19(a), G.S.

 

            15.       The complainant maintains that the records referenced in paragraph 11, above, are required to be disclosed pursuant to 1-82a(e), G.S.

 

            16.       Section 1-82a(e), G.S., provides

 

                        The [state ethics] commission shall make public a finding of probable cause not later than five business days after the termination of the investigation.  At such time the entire record of the investigation shall become public, except that the commission may postpone

 

Docket #FIC 92-250 & Docket #FIC 92-267                         Page 3

 

            examination or release of such public records for a period not to exceed fourteen days for the purpose of reaching a stipulation agreement pursuant to subsection (c) of section 4-177.  [Emphasis added.]

 

            17.       Section 7-148h, G.S., provides that the provisions of 1-82a(e) shall apply to the investigation and finding of probable cause by any municipal agency created to investigate allegations of unethical conduct.

 

            18.       It is found that the respondent is a municipal agency created to investigate allegations of unethical conduct, within the meaning of 7-148h, G.S.

 

            19.       It is found the respondent made a finding of probable cause against the complainant on or about June 10, 1992.

 

            20.       The respondent maintains that 1-82a(e), G.S., requires disclosure of only the record of the proceeding of the tribunal that made the probable cause determination, not the entire record of the investigation.

 

            21.       It is concluded, however, that the respondent's interpretation of 1-82a(e), G.S., is contrary to the statute's clear and unambiguous meaning.

 

            22.       It is therefore concluded that the respondent violated 1-19(a), G.S., by failing to provide to the complainant all the records referenced in paragraph 11, above.

 

 

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

 

            1.         Within one week of the issuance of the final decision in this matter, the respondent shall provide to the complainant, at no cost, copies of all the documents referenced in paragraph 11 of the findings, above, that were not provided on July 28, 1992; which documents are numbered 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29a through 29f, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 on the "Attachments" list referenced in paragraphs 7 amd 8 of the findings, above.

 

Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of July 14, 1993.

 

                                                                 

                                    Debra L. Rembowski

                                    Acting Clerk of the Commission

 

Docket #FIC 92-250 & Docket #FIC 92-267                         Page 4

 

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:

Louis Affinito

c/o Atty. David M. Reilly

Reilly and Reilly, P.C.

129 Church Street

P.O. Box 1533

New Haven, CT 96506-1533

 

Hamden Board of Ethics

Atty. Alan J. Tyma

Ryan, Tyma & Sousa

231 Coram Avenue

P.O. Box 648

Shelton, CT 06484

 

                                                                 

                                    Debra L. Rembowski

                                    Acting Clerk of the Commission