Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of December 16, 2013
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
The meeting was called to order at 12:55 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.
In attendance were: State’s Attorneys David I. Cohen (Stamford-Norwalk), Michael Dearington (New Haven), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John Smriga (Fairfield); Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto; and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Vicki Melchiorre (Hartford).
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Austin, Jr., and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy Sugrue.
State’s Attorney Smriga made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2013, meeting as amended. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Lawlor and passed unanimously.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities approved the Division’s 2013 Affirmative Action plan at their meeting earlier in the month. Mr. Kane thanked all of the State’s Attorneys, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys and especially the Division’s Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist, Ngina Gibson, for all of their hard work on the project.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the Division has submitted the customary budget reduction and expansion options to the Office of Policy and Management (OPM). At this time OPM has not taken any action on either reductions or expansion options. A request for any particular staffing needs will be sent out again to the State’s Attorneys after the holidays.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Division is co-sponsoring with the Department of Children and Families a forum on Wednesday, January 29, 2014, in Hartford for legislators, judges, policymakers, law enforcement and school administrators on efforts to eliminate domestic minor sex trafficking. More information will be forthcoming.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin reported that he had met with Board of Pardons and Paroles Chairperson Erika Tindall and Executive Director John DeFeo on the Board’s position that pardon applications and supporting materials are not public records available to the State’s Attorneys for their response to requested pardons. The Board and the Office of the Attorney General currently are awaiting a Freedom of Information Commission ruling on the matter. The Division will follow up its concerns about this policy with the Board after the ruling is released. The next Pardons Hearing is not scheduled until February of 2014.
Following up the adoption at last month’s meeting of the policy on matters raised in the U.S. Supreme Court Brady and Giglio decisions, there was a discussion of specific notification procedures that may be needed to implement the policy. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle will draft a letter to the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association seeking its input on the matter.
State’s Attorney Smriga made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Sedensky and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 2:35 p.m.