Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of February 22, 2016
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The meeting was called to order at 12:39 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.

In attendance were: Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto; State’s Attorneys Richard J. Colangelo, Jr., (Stamford/Norwalk), Michael Dearington (New Haven), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), 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 C. Smriga (Fairfield).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor, legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette and Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis.

State’s Attorney Platt made a motion to accept the minutes of the January 25, 2016, meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Colangelo and passed unanimously.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Brian K. Sibley, Sr., and Assistant United States Attorney Sarala V. Nagala for a presentation on the Connecticut Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is asking to have one prosecutor in each Judicial District designated to coordinate with its work. It was suggested that a follow-up training session for prosecutors and Inspectors may be in order.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced Commissioner Scott Semple of the Department of Correction (DOC) and Deputy Commissioners Cheryl Cepelak and Monica Rinaldi and acting Director of Karen Martucci for a discussion of recent modifications to the risk reduction earned credits program and other concerns related to DOC.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Division and DOC are compiling another deck of cold case playing cards. State’s Attorneys should submit cases they want considered for inclusion in the deck to Chief Inspector Michael Sullivan.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on the impact of the Governor’s Recommended Budget. The actual cut of approximately $4.8 million represents an 8.62 percent reduction from the biennial budget adopted by the General Assembly in 2015. The filling of vacancies is on hold. The Judicial Branch is considering facility consolidations that would obviously impact DCJ. The State’s Attorneys were asked to continue compiling data on the workload and time devoted to specific functions.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut is scheduling discussions on the increase in heroin overdoses. State’s Attorneys who are interested in participating should contact the Chief State’s Attorney as soon as possible.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.