MINUTES
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY
BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS
Thursday, December 8, 2022, 10am
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
1111 Country Club Rd., Middletown, CT 06457
Call to Order
Acting Chairman Carolyn Futtner called the meeting to order at 10:03am.
Acting Chairman Futtner read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call. Eleven appellants were present, three appellants failed to appear. Four local Issuing Authorities were present along with the State, three Issuing Authorities failed to appear.
Board Members Present: Acting Chairman Carolyn Futtner, Esq., Dr. Cynthia Conrad, Gudrun Johnson, Col. Chris Lewis, Chief Carl Rosensweig and Stephen Sanetti, Esq.
Board Members Absent: Anthony Iaconis, Esq.
Acting Chairman Carolyn Futtner administered the oath.
Hearings: Fourteen cases were heard in the following order:
1) Case No. 22-528-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Due to sickness, no one represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Keith Mello, Milford Police Department.
Continued: This case has been continued to 1/19/2023.
2) Case No. 21-452-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman, Esq. Dep. Chief Kevin Samperi represented the Local Issuing Authority, Acting Chief Timothy Wydra, Hamden Police Department.
Withdrew: Appellant withdrew, Hamden will issue.
3) Case No. 21-811-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman, Esq. No one appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, First Selectman, Andreas Bisbikos, Town of Colchester.
Motion: Board member Johnson made a motion for the Appellant by default, due to the Local Issuing Authority failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Col. Lewis, motion passed unanimously.
4) Case No. 22-824-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf along with Sherwan the translator. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Colin Milne represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.
Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered the State to issue the permit.
5) Case No. 21-135-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Colin Milne represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Motion: Board member Johnson made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Col. Lewis, motion passed unanimously.
6) Case No. 23-104-CD, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. No one represented the Local Issuing Authority, First Selectman Andreas Bisbikos, Town of Colchester.
Motion: Board member Johnson made a motion for the Appellant by default, due to the Local Issuing Authority failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Dr. Conrad, motion passed unanimously.
7) Case No. 20-534-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Kate Ayers represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Motion: Board member Johnson made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Atty. Sanetti, motion passed unanimously.
8) Case No. 21-849-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Kate Ayers represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Motion: Board member Johnson made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Col. Lewis, motion passed unanimously.
9) Case No. 21-196-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Kate Ayers represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Withdrew: Appellant withdrew.
10) Case No. 21-838-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Dep. Chief Kevin Samperi represented the Local Issuing Authority, Acting Chief Timothy Wydra, Hamden Police Department with one witness.
Recall: This case will be recalled when they go check with SLFU about fingerprints.
11) Case No. 22-126-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Robert Serafinowicz, Esq. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Colin Milne represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Withdrew: Appellant withdrew.
12) Case No. 23-006-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Michael Sigrist represented the Local Issuing Authority, Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia, Bridgeport Police Department.
Withdrew: Appellant withdrew, Bridgeport will issue.
13) Case No. 22-895-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Chief Christopher Vanghele represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Christopher Vanghele, Plainville Police Department.
Withdrew: Appellant withdrew, moved to Farmington.
14) Case No. 21-177-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Kate Ayers represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with 2 witnesses.
Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, the revocation of the pistol permit. Vote was 6-0 in favor of the State Issuing Authority.
10) RECALLED Case No. 21-838-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Dep. Chief Kevin Samperi represented the Local Issuing Authority, Acting Chief Timothy Wydra, Hamden Police Department with one witness.
Continued: This case has been continued to 2/2/2023.
Secretary’s Report:
Board member Johnson made a motion to accept the minutes from November 17, 2022, seconded by Atty. Sanetti, motion carried. Chief Rosensweig abstained.
Old Business: None
New Business: Discussed putting minutes onto the website.
Notified the Board that we will be scheduling a Slam Dunk Day to try to reduce the backlog.
Adjournment: Board member Ms. Johnson made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Atty. Sanetti, motion carried. Meeting ended at 12:43pm.