October 24 2019 Minutes

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

MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, October 24, 2019, 10am at the

Wethersfield Police Department, 250 Silas Deane Hwy.

Wethersfield, CT 06109

Call to Order

Chairman Frank P. Blando called the meeting to order at 10:05am.

Chairman Blando read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call. Thirteen appellants were present, four appellants failed to appear. The State Issuing Authority and twelve local Issuing Authorities were present.

Board Members Present: Chairman Frank P. Blando, Esq., Secretary Col. Kyle Overturf, Carolyn Futtner Esq., Anthony Iaconis, Esq., Gudrun Johnson, M. Peter Kuck, and Chief Carl Rosensweig.

Board Members Absent: Dr. Cynthia Conrad

Chairman Frank P. Blando administered the oath to all witnesses.

Hearings: Seventeen cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 19-612-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Lt. Heather Desmond represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief William McKenna, Middletown Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

2) Case No. 19-709-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Ashley Tayor represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Armando Perez, Bridgeport Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

3) Case No. 18-557-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Det. Michael Evangelisti represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Board Member Kuck, motion passed unanimously.

4) Case No. 18-559-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Det. Michael Evangelisti represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Board Member Johnson, motion passed unanimously.

5) Case No. 18-563-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Det. Michael Evangelisti represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

6) Case No. 18-566-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. Michael Evangelisti represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

7) Case No. 18-571-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Det. Michael Evangelisti represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

8) Case No. 19-664-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf with one witness. Lt. Heather Desmond represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief William McKenna, Middletown 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.

9) Case No. 19-549-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Robert A. Shrage, Esq. Asst. Corp. Counsel Joseph Skelly represented the Local Issuing Authority, Acting Chief Christopher Chute, New Britain Police Department with one witness.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered New Britain to issue the permit.

10) Case No. 19-675-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Kenneth Keroack was present for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case, Waterbury will issue.

11) Case No. 19-716-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Ofc. Paul McElroy appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, Town Manager Mary Calorio, Town of Killingly.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case

12) Case No. 19-640-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. Sgt. Kenneth Keroack was present for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Waterbury to issue the permit.

13) Case No. 19-607-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Kerry M. Gleason, Esq. Det. Joseph Legen appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Joseph McNeil, Stratford Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant. Chairman Blando, Board members Atty. Iaconis, Mr. Kuck, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the appellant. Board Secretary Overturf, Atty. Futtner and Ms. Johnson voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Vote was 4-3 in favor of the appellant and ordered Stratford to issue the permit.

14) Case No. 19-578-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. Det. Joseph Legen appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Joseph McNeil, Stratford Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Stratford to issue the permit.

15) Case No. 19-663-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Lt. Brian Weir appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Michael Lombardo, Trumbull 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.

16) Case No. 19-706-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Cpt. Brendan Marschner appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Keith Mello, Milford Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

17) Case No. 19-712-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Robert Brown appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Gerald Narowski, Derby Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant. Board Secretary Overturf, Board members Atty. Iaconis, Mr. Kuck, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the appellant. Chairman Blando, Atty. Futtner and Ms. Johnson voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Vote was 4-3 in favor of the appellant and ordered Derby to issue the permit.

Secretary’s Report:

September 5, 2019 Minutes: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion to accept the minutes for September 5, 2019 seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion carried unanimously. Ms. Johnson abstains from #’s 17, 18 and 19. Atty Iaconis abstains from #19.

September 19, 2019 Minutes: Board member Atty. Iaconis made a motion to accept the minutes for September 19, 2019 seconded by Board Secretary Overturf, motion carried. Chairman Blando and Ms. Johnson abstained.

October 3, 2019 Minutes: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion to accept the minutes for October 3, 2019 seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion carried. Ms. Johnson abstains from #’s 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.

New Business:

Motion made by Board Secretary Overturf to go into Executive Session seconded by Atty. Iaconis to discuss matter 18-053-D.

Motion made by Board Secretary Overturf to come out of Executive Session seconded by Mr. Kuck.

Office Manager, Nancy Lotas was asked to contact the AG’s office to move forward with the appeal on

Case #18-053-D.

Adjournment: Atty. Iaconis made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Board Secretary Overturf, motion carried. Meeting ended at 3:15pm.

Office of Governmental Accountability Board of Firearms Permit Examiners