Office of Governmental Accountability Board of Firearms Permit Examiners

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MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, September 2, 2021, 10am at the

TEAMS Virtual Hearing

 

 

Call to Order

Chairman Frank P. Blando called the meeting to order at 10:05am.

Chairman Blando read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call.  Six appellants were present, two appellants failed to appear. Six local Issuing Authorities were present along with the State Issuing Authority.

Board Members Present: Chairman Frank P. Blando, Esq., Secretary Carolyn Futtner Esq., Dr. Cynthia Conrad, Anthony Iaconis, Esq., Gudrun Johnson, Col. Chris Lewis, Chief Carl Rosensweig and Stephen Sanetti, Esq.

Board Members Absent: None

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

Hearings: Eight cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 21-215-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. Chief Marshall Porter represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Marshall Porter, Glastonbury Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew her case.

2) Case No. 21-243-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Sgt. Kenneth Keroack represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

3) Case No. 21-060-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Stephanie A. Bernstein, Esq.  Chief Steven Clark represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Steven Clark, Newington Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and instructed Newington to issue the permit.  Chairman Blando, Dr. Conrad, Atty. Iaconis, Col. Lewis and Atty. Sanetti voted for the appellant.  Secretary Atty. Futtner, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the Issuing Authority.  Vote was 5-2 in favor of the appellant. Ms. Johnson was absent from this vote. 

 

4) Case No. 20-400-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Dennis Bradley, Esq.  Det. Joseph Legen represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Joseph McNeil, Stratford Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

5) Case No. 19-728-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Legal Affairs Director Cynthia Isales represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board member Chief Rosensweig made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Atty Iaconis, motion passed unanimously. Again, Ms. Johnson was not in the hearing.

Board member Johnson has come back into the hearing.

6) Case No. 19-720-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Legal Affairs Director Cynthia Isales represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with two witnesses.

Motion: Board member Chief Rosensweig made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Atty Sanetti, motion passed unanimously. .

7) Case No. 21-243-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Daniel C. Thibodeau, Esq. with one witness. Sgt. Kenneth Keroack represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Department with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit.

8) Case No. 21-237-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Det. Lionel Rodriguez represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Paul Hammick, Bloomfield Police Department.

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

 

Secretary’s Report:

Board member Johnson made a motion to accept the minutes from August 19, 2021, seconded by Col. Lewis, motion carried. Atty. Iaconis abstained.

 

 

New Business:

 

The Board decided to continue the hearings virtually through October and discuss the November hearings at the October 7, 2021 hearing.  .

 

Adjournment: Dr. Conrad made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion carried. Meeting ended at 12:25pm.