DRAFT

MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, April 11, 2013, 12:00pm at the

Wethersfield Police Department, Wethersfield, CT

Call to Order

Chairman Joseph T. Corradino, Esq. called the meeting to order at 12:00pm.

Chairman Corradino called the roll call. 12 appellants were present and 2 appellants failed to appear.

The State Issuing Authority was present and 2 local Issuing Authorities were present and 1 local Issuing Authority failed to appear.

Board Members Present: Chairman Joseph T. Corradino, Esq., Chief T. William Knapp, (Ret.), Attorney Craig Fishbein, Attorney Jay Greer, Mr. M. Peter Kuck, Mr. Kenneth Tramadeo and Col. Kyle Overturf. (Left at 4:25pm*)

Chairman Joseph T. Corradino administered the oath to all witnesses.

Secretary T. William Knapp made a motion to move #14, 12-393-D to #2 on the agenda. Tramadeo seconded the motion, motion carried.

Hearings:

1) Case No. 13-103-D, Eduviges Rodriguez, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Frank B. Velardi, Jr. represented the appellant. Officer Monique Colon appeared on behalf of the local Issuing Authority Chief Dean Esserman, New Haven Police Department.

Agreement: The appellant agreed to withdraw his appeal and the local Issuing Authority Chief Dean Esserman, New Haven Police Department agreed to issue a temporary pistol permit within 30 days.

2) Case No. 13-134-R, William Wright, Sr., involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a majority, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.  Corradino, Greer and Overturf voted for the State Issuing Authority. Fishbein, Knapp, Kuck and Tramadeo voted for Mr. Wright to be reinstated his pistol permit. 

3) Case No. 13-230-R, Andrew Malerba, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Rachel M. Baird represented the appellant with four witnesses. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with two witnesses.

Decision: By a majority, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Corradino, Greer, and Overturf voted for the State Issuing Authority. Fishbein, Knapp, Kuck and Tramadeo voted for Mr. Malerba to be reinstated his pistol permit.

4) Case No. 13-187-R, Andrew T. Bieszad involving the State denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Withdrew: The appellant withdrew his appeal just prior to the hearing.

*Col. Overturf left at 4:25pm

5) Case No. 13-056-R, Wayne Levesque, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf with one witness. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the revocation of Mr. Levesque’s pistol permit.

6) Case No.12-064-R, Ritchie D. Fortt, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with two witnesses.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the revocation of Mr. Fortt’s pistol permit.

7) Case No.13-151-R, Henry T. Acevedo, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Motion: Corradino made a motion that The Board adjourn the hearing and continue on May 9, 2013, with the appellant, Mr. Acevedo, instructed to bring his discharge instructions from the doctor while hospitalized at Waterbury Hospital. Tramadeo seconded the motion, motion carried.

8) Case No. 13-029-R. Rebecca Prout, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Rachel M. Baird represented the appellant. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Agreement: The appellant agreed to withdraw her appeal and the State Issuing Authority agreed to issue her permit on April 11, 2014, if there are no other events or disqualifiers regarding her suitability.

9) Case No. 13-118-R, Frank Richardson, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a majority, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection the revocation of Mr. Richardson’s pistol permit. Kuck and Tramadeo voted for the appellant. Corradino, Fishbein, Greer, and Knapp voted to uphold the State Issuing Authorities decision, at this time.

10) Case No. 13-131-R, Todd Bissonnette, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the revocation of Mr. Bissonnette’s pistol permit, by default.

11) Case No. 13-197-R, Christopher L. Currier, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a majority, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection the revocation of Mr. Currier’s pistol permit. Kuck voted for the appellant. Corradino, Fishbein, Greer, Knapp and Tramadeo voted to uphold the State Issuing Authorities decision.

12) Case No. 13-114-R, Harold L. Moulton, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the revocation of Mr. Moulton’s pistol permit, at this time.

13) Case No. 13-109-D, Thomas E. Lopez involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. A representative appeared for the local Issuing Authority, Chief Thomas Kiely, Trumbull Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the local Issuing Authority, Chief Thomas Kiely, Trumbull Police Department, the denial of Mr. Lopez’s pistol permit, by default for failure to appear.

14) Case No. 12-393-D, Robert Miconi, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Ralph Sherman represented the appellant. A representative from the local Issuing Authority failed to appear on behalf of Chief John Karagjanis, West Haven Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the local Issuing Authority, Chief John Karagjanis, West Haven Police Department. The Board voted for Mr. Miconi to be issued a temporary pistol permit, by default, due to a representative from West Haven Police Department failing to appear.

Secretary’s Report:

1)     Approval of March 1, 2013 minutes

2)     Approval of March 14, 2013 minutes

Old Business:

New Business:

1)Need for additional appropriation due to increase in new appeals new law. AN ACT CONCERNING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CHILDREN’S SAFETY, Chairman and Secretary will write letter to Appropriations.

Adjournment: Corradino made a motion to adjourn, Tramadeo seconded the motion, motion carried. 11:50pm.