MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday February 14, 2013, 12:00pm at the

Wethersfield Police Department, Wethersfield, CT

Call to Order

Secretary T. William Knapp called the meeting to order at 12:00pm.

Secretary Knapp read the Introductory Statement

Secretary Knapp called the roll call.  8 appellants were present and 1 appellant was absent.

The State Issuing Authority was present and 5 local Issuing Authorities were present.

Board Members Present: Chairman Joseph T. Corradino, Esq., Chief T. William Knapp, (Ret.), Mr. M. Peter Kuck, Mr. Kenneth Tramadeo and Col. Kyle Overturf. (left at 4:05pm*)

Board Members Absent: Attorney Craig Fishbein and Attorney Jay Greer

Tramadeo made a motion to recess until Chairman Corradino arrived, Kuck seconded the motion, motion carried.

Chairman Joseph T. Corradino arrived at 1:20pm and administered the oath to all witnesses.

Hearings:

1) Case No. 13-170-R, Andres Cuervo, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant had 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.

Agreement: The State Issuing Authority notified the Board that they had reissued Mr. Cuervo’s permit prior to the hearing after they received a copy of the pardon from California.

2) Case No. 12-366-R, Roger Uszakiewicz, 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, by default for the appellants’ failure to appear.

3) Case No. 12-360-D, Timothy Gaughan, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Gary Charette represented of the local Issuing Authority Chief Carl Rosensweig, Granby Police Department. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Chairman Corradino made a motion the Board make a finding of fact as to the accuracy of the recitation of events in the denial letter, the evidence of conviction of domestic violence, as by way of official documentation, is insufficient to establish domestic violence therefore the Board finds for the appellant. Motion seconded by Knapp, motion carried.

4) Case No. 13-035-D, Christopher M. DiNigris, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. A representative appeared on behalf of the local Issuing Authority Chief Keith Mello, Milford Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the local Issuing Authority, Chief Keith Mello, Milford Police Department, by default for the appellants’ failure to appear. 

5) Case No. 13-124-D, Granville Watson, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. A representative appeared on behalf of the local Issuing Authority Chief Paul P. Hammick, Bloomfield Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the local Issuing Authority, Chief Paul P. Hammick, Bloomfield Police Department, by default for the appellants’ failure to appear. 

6) Case No.13-006-R, Richard Pinney, Jr., involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his appeal prior to the hearing.

7) Case No. 13-090-D, Richard Schatz, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. First Selectman Austin Tanner appeared as the local Issuing Authority for the Town of Brooklyn.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the local Issuing Authority First Selectman Tanner, Town of Brooklyn, and to issue a temporary pistol permit to the appellant, Mr. Schatz.

8) Case No. 13-113-D, Frederick Schulz, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Lt. Merrick represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Alan D. Baker, Danbury Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the local Issuing Authority Chief Alan D. Baker, Danbury Police Department, the denial of a temporary pistol permit.

9) Case No. 13-112-D, Louis Resendes, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Lt. Merrick represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Alan D. Baker, Danbury Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the local Issuing Authority Chief Alan D. Baker, Danbury Police Department, and to issue a temporary pistol permit to the appellant, Mr. Resendes.

10) Case No. 12-413-R, Arthur Geltz, 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.

11) Case No. 12-382-R, Raymond Pridgen, 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.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his appeal.

12) Case No. 13-049-D, Derek Scoville, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Corporal Brian Hughef, represented the local Issuing Authority, First Selectman Ed Edelson, Town of Southbury. 

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the local Issuing Authority, First Selectman Edelson, Town of Southbury, at this time.

*Col. Overturf left the meeting at 4:15pm.

13) Case No. 13-073-D, Henry Hamlet, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Kim Nikola represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Joseph Gaudett, Bridgeport Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant, Mr. Hamlet, withdrew his appeal.

14) Case No. 13-089-D, Jose A. Martinez, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. A representative from the local Issuing Authority, Chief James C. Rovella, Hartford Police Department failed to appear.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the local Issuing Authority, Chief James C. Rovella, Hartford Police Department, by default for the local Issuing Authorities’ failure to appear. Mr. Martinez is to be issued a temporary pistol permit.

15) Case No. 13-100-D, Julio Barreto, involving the denial of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Litwan represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Mark J. Sirois, East Hartford Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant, Mr. Barreto withdrew his appeal.

16) Case No. 13-092-R, Efstathios V. Savvidis, 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.

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, at this time.

17) Case No. 13-018-R, Eric Novick, 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.

Withdrawal: The appellant, Mr. Novick, withdrew his appeal.

18) Case No. 13-030-R, Andre Travaglino, 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 voted for the State Issuing Authority, at this time. Knapp, Kuck, and Tramadeo voted for the appellant to be reinstated his pistol permit.

19) Case No. 13-116-R, David 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.

Withdrawal: The appellant, Mr. Moulton, withdrew his appeal.

Secretary’s Report:

The January 10, 2013 and January 24, 2013 minutes were tabled to the next meeting.

Adjournment: Tramadeo made a motion to adjourn, Kuck seconded the motion, motion carried.