TO: Freedom of Information Commission
FROM: Thomas A. Hennick
RE: Minutes of the Commission’s special meeting of October 8, 2008
A special meeting of the Freedom of Information Commission was held on October 8, 2008, in the Freedom of Information Hearing Room, 18-20 Trinity Street, Hartford, Connecticut. The meeting convened at 1:27 p.m. with the following Commissioners present:
Commissioner Andrew J. O’Keefe, presiding
Commissioner Sherman D. London
Commissioner Vincent M. Russo
Commissioner Dennis O’Connor
Commissioner Norma E. Riess
Also present were staff members, Colleen M. Murphy, Eric V. Turner, Mary E. Schwind, Tracie C. Brown, Gregory F. Daniels, Lisa F. Siegel, Valicia D. Harmon, Henry Pawlowski, Paula Pearlman, Cindy Cannata and Thomas A. Hennick.
Those in attendance were informed that the Commission does not ordinarily
record the remarks made at its meetings, but will do so on request.
The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the minutes of the Commission’s regular meeting of September 24, 2008.
Docket #FIC 2007-610 Anthony Torres v. State of Connecticut, Department of Correction
Attorney Nicole Anker appeared on behalf of the respondent. The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s report as corrected.* The proceedings were recorded digitally. Chairman O’Keefe stated, for the record, that Anthony Torres had declined to participate via speakerphone.
Docket #FIC 2008-224 Anthony Torres v. Joan M. Ellis, Administrator, State of Connecticut, Department of Correction, Freedom of Information Office; and State of Connecticut, Department of Correction
Attorney Madeline Melchionne appeared on behalf of the respondents. The
Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report. The proceedings were recorded digitally. Chairman O’Keefe stated, for the record, that Anthony Torres had declined to participate via speakerphone.
Minutes, Special Meeting, October 8, 2008
Page 2
Docket #FIC 2008-383 Anthony Torres v. Theresa C. Lantz, Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Correction; and State of Connecticut, Department of Correction
Attorney Madeline Melchionne appeared on behalf of the respondents. The
Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report. The proceedings were recorded digitally. Chairman O’Keefe stated, for the record, that Anthony Torres had declined to participate via speakerphone.
Docket #FIC 2008-324 Raymond Cerilli v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Motor Vehicles
Raymond Cerilli participated via speakerphone. The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report. The proceedings were recorded digitally.
Docket #FIC 2007-616 William J. Sweeney v. Hector Diaz, Town Clerk, Town of
Bridgeport and Fleeta C. Hudson, City Clerk, City of
Bridgeport
The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Docket #FIC 2007-680 Len Besthoff and WFSB-TV 3 v. Chief, Police
Department, City of East Hartford; and Police Department,
City of East Hartford
Len Besthoff appeared on behalf of the complainants. Attorney Frank Cassetta appeared on behalf of the respondents. The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report. The proceedings were recorded digitally.
Docket #FIC 2007-702 Dan Uhlinger and The Hartford Courant v. Chief, Police
Department, Town of East Hartford; and Police
Department, Town of East Hartford
Dan Uhlinger appeared on behalf of the complainants. Attorney Frank Cassetta appeared on behalf of the respondents. The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report. The proceedings were recorded digitally.
Minutes, Special Meeting, October 8, 2008
Page 3
Docket #FIC 2008-055 John A. Corona v. Chairman, Public Safety Committee,
Town of Durham; and Public Safety Committee, Town of
Durham
The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Docket #FIC 2008-229 Kerry Brooks Swift v. George Brown, Chairman,
Municipal Building Committee, Town of Brookfield
The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Docket #FIC 2008-299 Kerry Brooks Swift v. Jerome Murphy, Selectman, Town
of Brookfield
The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Docket #FIC 2008-245 Christopher Smith v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut,
Department of Public Safety, Legal Affairs Unit; and State
of Connecticut, Department of Public Safety, Legal Affairs
Unit
The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Docket #FIC 2008-352 James Brezniak v. Board of Selectmen, Town of Putnam
The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Docket #FIC 2008-368 Fairfield Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 1426 v.
Board of Fire Commissioners, Town of Easton
The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Minutes, Special Meeting, October 8, 2008
Page 4
Colleen Murphy and Lisa Siegel reported on pending appeals.
Colleen Murphy and Henry Pawlowski reported on legislation.
The meeting adjourned at 1:52 p.m.
_______________________
Thomas A. Hennick
MINREG meeting 10082008/tah/10082008
Minutes, Special Meeting, October 8, 2008
Page 5
CORRECTION
Docket #FIC 2007-610 Anthony Torres v. State of Connecticut, Department of Correction
The Hearing Officer’s Report is corrected as follow:
The above-captioned matter was scheduled to be heard as a contested case on May 29, [2007], 2008 at which time the respondent appeared, but the complainant, who is incarcerated, refused to appeared via teleconference. See the January 2004 memorandum of understanding between the Commission and the Department of Correction establishing such teleconferences; and Docket No. CV 03-0826293, Anthony Sinchak v. FOIC et al, Superior Court, J.D. of Hartford at Hartford, Corrected Order dated January 27, 2004 (Sheldon, J.), approving such teleconferences.