MINUTES
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY
BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS
Thursday, July 21, 2022, 10am
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
1111 Country Club Rd., Middletown, CT 06457
Call to Order
Acting Chairman Carolyn M. Futtner called the meeting to order at 10:06am.
Acting Chairman Futtner read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call. Nine appellants were present, five appellants failed to appear. Six local Issuing Authorities were present along with the State. Two Issuing Authorities failed to show.
Board Members Present: Acting Chairman and Secretary Carolyn Futtner Esq., Dr. Cynthia Conrad, Anthony Iaconis, Esq., and Gudrun Johnson, Col. Chris Lewis, Chief Carl Rosensweig, and Stephen Sanetti, Esq.
Board Members Absent: None
Acting Chairman Carolyn M. Futtner administered the oath to all witnesses.
Hearings: Fourteen cases were heard in the following order:
1) Case No. 20-273-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matthew Reed represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, the revocation of the pistol permit.
2) Case No. 21-661-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman Esq. with one witness. Ofc. Paul McElroy represented the Local Issuing Authority, Town Manager, Mary Calorio, Town of Killingly.
Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Killingly to issue the permit. Acting Chairman Futtner, Dr. Conrad, Atty. Ioconis, Col. Lewis and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Appellant. Ms. Johnson and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority Vote was 5-2 in favor of the Appellant.
3) Case No. 20-260-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matthew Reed represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Motion: Board member Dr. Conrad made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Atty.Sanetti, motion passed unanimously.
4) Case No. 20-596-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matthew Reed represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Motion: Board member Atty. Iaconis made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion passed unanimously.
5) Case No. 20-620-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant and Atty. Jason Sucoll failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matthew Reed represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Motion: Board member Atty. Sanetti made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Dr. Conrad, motion passed unanimously. Ms. Johnson stepped out during this vote.
6) Case No. 20-516-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant and Atty. Jason Sucoll failed to appear. DESPP Legal Director Attorney Cynthia Isales represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Motion: Board member Col. Lewis made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion passed unanimously. Ms. Johnson stepped out during this vote.
7) Case No. 21-632-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. 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. 21-669-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Kenneth Keroack represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Department.
Motion: Board member Ms. Johnson made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Dr. Conrad, motion passed unanimously.
9) Case No. 21-594-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. No one represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief William Fitzgerald, Winchester Police Department.
Motion: Board member Ms. Johnson made a motion for the Appellant, by default, due to the Issuing Authority failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Atty. Iaconis, with Acting Chairman Futtner, Dr. Conrad, Atty. Iaconis, Ms. Johnson, Col. Lewis and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the motion and Chief Rosensweig voted against the motion. Motion passed 6-1.
10) Case No. 21-765-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. No one represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief William Fitzgerald, Winchester Police Department.
Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.
11) Case No. 20-592-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matthew Reed represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, the revocation of the pistol permit.
12) Case No. 21-713-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Kristopher Matthews represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Gerald Narowski, Derby Police Department.
Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Derby to issue the pistol permit.
13) Case No. 21-750-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Kristopher Matthews represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Gerald Narowski, Derby Police Department.
Motion: Board member Ms. Johnson made a motion for the Appellant, due to lack suitability issue, motion was seconded by Dr. Conrad, motion passed unanimously.
14) Case No. 21-392-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Sharen A. Friday. Town Atty. Tyler Williams represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Foti Koskinas, Westport 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.
Secretary’s Report:
Board member Atty. Sanetti made a motion to accept the minutes from July 7, 2022, seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion carried. Dr. Conrad, Atty. Iaconis and Col. Lewis abstained.
Old Business: Discussed the media attention and the new NY Supreme Court decision.
New Business: None
Adjournment: Board member Ms. Johnson made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Chief Rosensweig, motion carried. Meeting ended at 1:40pm.