Office of Governmental Accountability Board of Firearms Permit Examiners

PLEASE CONTACT THE BOARD IMMEDIATELY IF YOUR PERMIT WAS ISSUED OR REINSTATED PRIOR TO YOUR HEARING. THIS WILL REDUCE THE BACKLOG.

October 24, 2013

DRAFT MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, October 24, 2013, 12:00pm at the

Wethersfield Police Department, Wethersfield, CT

Call to Order

Chairman Joseph T. Corradino, Esq. called the meeting to order at 12:00pm.

Chairman Corradino read the Introductory Statement.

Board Members Present: Chairman Joseph T. Corradino, Esq., Chief Carl Rosensweig, Attorney Craig Fishbein, Attorney Jay Greer, Mr. M. Peter Kuck, Col. Kyle Overturf.

Chairman Corradino called the roster; 4 appellants, the State Issuing Authority representative and 1 local Issuing Authority representative were present.

Chairman Corradino administered the oath to all witnesses.

Recognition of former Board Members:

On behalf of the Board, Chairman Corradino honored former members, Chief T. William Knapp, (Ret.) and Kenneth V. Tramadeo in gratitude for each serving as volunteer Board members for 5 years. Chief Knapp was also thanked for his service as the elected Secretary of the Board for 4 of his 5 years on the Board. Both gentlemen served on the sub-committee and developed the “Policies and Procedures” document adopted by the Board in 2010. The Board thanked Chief Knapp and Mr. Tramadeo for their dedication, selfless service, integrity, friendship and wisdom.

On behalf of the Board, Colonel Kyle Overturf honored Chairman Joseph T. Corradino, Esq. in gratitude for his 6 years as a volunteer member of the Board. Chairman Corradino served as Secretary of the Board for 1 year and then as Chairman of the Board for 5 years. Chairman Corradino also served as a Commissioner on the Office of Governmental Accountability Commission as a representative of the Board for 2 years. The Board expressed their gratitude for his dedication, selfless service, integrity, friendship and wisdom.  

All three members were honored with plaques from the Board and citations from the General Assembly. All will be missed.

Swearing-In:

Chairman Corradino swore-in two new Board Members, Attorney Frank P. Blando and Dr. S. David Bernstein. Chairman Corradino spoke of their resumes and experience that they will bring to the Board. Attorney Blando was nominated by Governor Malloy as a public member and Dr. Bernstein was nominated by the Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Both gentlemen were welcomed by the Board members.

Election of Board Officers:

Chairman Corradino nominated Attorney Frank B. Blando to be Secretary of the Board for a term of two years, Mr. Greer seconded the motion.

Mr. Kuck nominated Attorney Craig Fishbein to be Secretary of the Board, there was no second to the motion, motion failed.

Chairman Corradino made a motion for the unanimous election Attorney Blando to be Secretary of the Board, seeing no objections, the motion to elect Attorney Blando as Secretary of the Board, carried unanimously.

Chairman Corradino, whose term will end November 1, 2013, nominated Attorney Craig Fishbein, in accordance with 29-32b-4a of the Board’s regulations, to serve as the next Chairman of the Board, Mr. Kuck seconded the motion, motion carried unanimously.

Hearings:

1) Case No. 13-079-R, Timothy E. Hall, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Ralph D. Sherman represented the appellant. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Agreement: The appellant, Hall, agreed to withdraw his appeal and the State Issuing Authority agreed to reissue his permit on or before Feb. 12, 2014.

2) Case No. 13-282-R, Daniel Novak, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Ralph D. Sherman represented the appellant. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Agreement: The appellant, Novak, agreed to withdraw his appeal and the State Issuing Authority agreed to reissue his permit on May 19, 2014.

3) Case No. 13-357-R, Alberto Maldonado, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and voted for Maldonado’s pistol permit to be reinstated.

4) Case No. 13-343-R, Edward A. Sandor, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and voted for Sandor’s pistol permit to be reinstated.

5) Case No. 13-286-R, Timothy R. Steele, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Paolo D’Alessandro represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Reuben F. Bradford, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the revocation of Steele’s pistol permit.

6) Case No. 13-315-D, Dane V. Vartabedian, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. John Fiore represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief J. Darren Stewart, Stonington Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the local Issuing Authority, Chief J. Darren Stewart, Stonington Police Department, to deny Vartabedian a temporary pistol permit.

Secretary’s Report: Corradino asked for a motion to approve the October 10, 2013 minutes. Kuck made a motion, Overturf seconded the motion, motion carried. Blando and Bernstein abstained.

Old Business: none

New Business: none

Adjournment: Corradino made a motion to adjourn, Overturf seconded the motion, motion carried. 6:15pm.