Criminal Justice Commission
Minutes of the Special Meeting of April 28, 2020
The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:13 a.m. In accordance with Executive Orders issued because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was conducted by electronic conference (ZOOM software). The public was provided notice of the meeting via the Division of Criminal Justice/Criminal Justice Commission website and invited to observe the proceedings and participate and/or submit public comment.
In addition to the public, participating in the meeting were: The Honorable Melanie L. Cradle, attorneys Robert Berke, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Scott Murphy and Moy Ogilvie and Chief State’s Attorney Richard J. Colangelo, Jr.
Attorney Murphy moved to accept the minutes of the January 30, 2020, meeting. Attorney Berke seconded the motion and it passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Justice McDonald acknowledged the extraordinary circumstances requiring the Commission to meet remotely and thanked all involved for their assistance, understanding and patience. Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo reported on the Division of Criminal Justice response to the pandemic and the Division’s contribution to reducing the incarcerated population during the pandemic.
Justice McDonald expressed the Commission’s gratitude to Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Cornelius Kelly who has served as acting State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Fairfield since the retirement of State’s Attorney John C. Smriga.
The Commission proceeded to interview Joseph T. Corradino and Stacey Haupt Miranda for the Fairfield State’s Attorney’s position. The Commission took a break from 11:22 a.m. to 11:32 a.m. after which it interviewed C. Robert Satti, Jr. before recessing for lunch at12:31 p.m. The meeting resumed at 1:01 p.m. at which time the Commission proceeded to interview Colleen Zingaro and David R. Applegate. Justice McDonald noted that Attorney Applegate applied for the State’s Attorney positions in the Fairfield and Stamford/Norwalk Judicial Districts and the interview today was for both.
There was no public comment. One individual who had expressed interest to participate in the public comment portion of the meeting was unable to do so and emailed a statement in support of one of the candidates that was provided to the Commission.
The Commission concluded interviews at 3:16 p.m. Attorney Murphy moved to enter executive session to discuss the candidates interviewed for State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Fairfield and to receive a report from the Chief State’s Attorney regarding a personnel issue. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Justice McDonald advised the public that no motions were expected to be made or votes taken during the executive session. The Commission anticipates acting on the appointments of the State’s Attorneys for the Fairfield and Stamford/Norwalk districts after interviewing additional candidates for the Stamford/Norwalk position at the meeting scheduled for April 30, 2020.
The executive session began at 3:20 p.m. No motions were made or votes taken during the executive session, which ended at 4:02 p.m. The Commission apologizes for a technical issue that ended the original ZOOM session at the outset of the executive session, which is not accessible to the public.
There being no further business, Attorney Betts moved to adjourn the meeting. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed unanimously on a voice vote.