MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, September 21, 2017 10am at the

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457

Call to Order

Chairman Frank P. Blando called the meeting to order at 10:00am.

Chairman Blando read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call.  Seven appellants were present, one appellant failed to appear and two cases were resolved the day before the hearing. The State Issuing Authority and six local Issuing Authorities were present.

Board Members Present: Chairman Frank P. Blando, Esq., Secretary Craig C. Fishbein, Esq., Dr. Charles Dike, James A. Greer, Esq., Ms. Gudrun Johnson, Mr. M. Peter Kuck and Col. Kyle Overturf.

Board Members Absent: Chief Carl Rosensweig.

Chairman Frank P. Blando administered the oath to all witnesses.

Hearings: Eight were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 16-408-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman, Esq.. Sgt. Cardona represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Jeffry Cossette, Meriden Police Department.

Agreement: Appellant withdrew his case, Meriden will issue permit.

2) Case No. 16-364-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Agreement: Appellant withdrew his case, State will reissue.

3) Case No. 16-137-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Agreement: Appellant withdrew his case, State will reissue.

4) Case No. 16-373-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board Member Kuck made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Board Member Sledge, motion passed unanimously.

5) Case No. 16-366-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Agreement: Appellant withdrew his case, State will reissue.

6) Case No. 16-304-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board Member Overturf made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Board Member Ms. Johnson, motion passed unanimously.

7) Case No. 16-429-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. No one appeared for the local Issuing Authority, Chief James L. Cetran, Wethersfield Police Department.

Motion: Board Member Kuck made a motion, Col. Overturf seconded the motion, motion passed unanimously. Case Marked Off.

8) Case No. 16-555-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  No one appeared for the local Issuing Authority, First Selectman Emmett Lyman Town of East Haddam.

Motion: Board Member Kuck made a motion, Col. Overturf seconded the motion, motion passed unanimously. Case Marked Off.

9) Case No. 16-407-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf..  Leonard Assard appeared for the local Issuing Authority, First Selectman Leonard Assard, Town of Bethlehem.

Motion: Board Member Kuck made a motion in favor of the appellant, due to failure to prove unsuitability, seconded by Board Member Johnson.  Motion passed with 5-1 majority of the votes. Chief Rosensweig voted against the motion, Chairman Blando, Col. Overturf, Dr. Sledge, Ms, Johnson and Mr. Kuck voted in favor of the appeallant.

10) Case No. 16-548-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Sgt. Monahan represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Vernon Riddick, Waterbury Police Department.

Withdrew: The appellant withdrew his case

11) Case No. 17-723-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman, Esq. with 1 witness. Det. Michael Panton represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Joseph McNeil, Stratford Police Department.

Motion: Motion made by Board member Kuck to mark this case off to seek legal advise on the medical marijuana card seconded by Dr. Sledge. Motion failed 3-3.  Chairman Blando, Col. Overturf, and Chief Rosensweig voted against and Dr. Sledge, Mr. Kuck and Ms. Johnson voted in favor of seeking legal advise.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and Stratford ordered to issue the permit. Chairman Blando, Col Overturf, Dr. Sledge, and Mr. Kuck voted in favor of the appellant.  Chief Rosensweig and Ms. Johnson voted in against the appellant.

12) Case No. 16-471-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Kevin Creed, Esq.  First Selectman Michael Criss represented the Town of Harwinton.

Continue: This case has been continued for 90 days.

13) Case No. 16-566-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Bensey represented Chief Armando Perez, Bridgeport Police Deprttment.

Withdrew:  The appellant withdrew his case.

14) Case No. 16-425-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Off..Loverimi represented Chief Kevin Hale, Ansonia Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit. Chairman Blando and Board member Kuck voted in favor of the appellant.  Col Overturf, Dr. Sledge, Chief Rosensweig and Ms. Johnson voted against the appellant.  Chief Rosensweig and Ms. Johnson voted in against the appellant.

15) Case No. 16-306-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Wolfburg represented Chief Michael Surprenant, Plainfield Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Plainfield to issue him his permit.

16) Case No. 17-641-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Lt. Mark Williams represented Chief Patrick Ridenhour, Danbury Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board to uphold the decision of the local Issuing Authority the denial of his pistol permit at this time.

17) Case No. 16-492-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. Lt. Timothy Juergens represented Chief Scott Sansom, East Hartford Police Department.

Motion: Board Member Chief Rosensweig made a motion in favor of the appellant, due to failure to prove unsuitability, seconded by Board Member Kuck. 

Secretary’s Report:

Board member Col. Overturf made a motion to accept the September 7, 2017 minutes as submitted, Dr. Sledge seconded the motion, motion carried. Board member Johnson abstained from the vote.

New Business:

Discussed Stratford denying issuing appellant his permit as the appellant has moved.

Discussed the 2018 hearings

Adjournment: Board Member Kuck made a motion to adjourn, Board Member Overturf seconded the motion, motion carried. Meeting ended at 2:05pm.