MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, November 17, 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 10:05am.

Acting Chairman Futtner read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call.  Nine appellants were present, four appellants failed to appear. Six local Issuing Authorities were present along with the State.

Board Members Present: Acting Chairman Carolyn Futtner, Esq., Dr. Cynthia Conrad, Anthony Iaconis, Esq., Gudrun Johnson, Col. Chris Lewis, and Stephen Sanetti, Esq.

Board Members Absent: Chief Carl Rosensweig

Acting Chairman Carolyn Futtner administered the oath.

Hearings: Thirteen cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 21-656-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Sgt. Harrison Formiglio represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Patrick Daley, Norwich Police Department with one witness (Appellant).

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit. Acting Chairman Futtner, Dr. Conrad, Atty. Ioconis, Ms. Johnson and Col. Lewis voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 5-1 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

2) Case No. 21-836-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Lt. Joe Ficacelli represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Scott Sansom, East Hartford Police Department with one witness (Appellant).

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit. Vote was 6-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

3) Case No. 21-078-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. DESPP Legal Director Attorney Cynthia Isales 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 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.

4) Case No. 20-488-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. DESPP Legal Director Attorney Cynthia Isales 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 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.

5) Case No. 21-024-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers.  The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Director Attorney Cynthia Isales represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board member Ms. 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. Motion was 5-1 with one abstention.

(?) Case No. 20-134-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers.  The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matthew Reed represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board member Ms. 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. Motion was 5-1 with one abstention.

THIS CASE DECISSION WAS REVERSED WHEN APPELLANT APPEARED AFTER BEING HELD DOWNSTAIRS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

6) Case No. 20-481-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers.  The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matthew Reed represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board member Ms. 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. Motion was 5-1 with one abstention.

7) Case No. 21-848-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Lt. Matthew Solak represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Paul Hussey, Willimantic Police Department.

Motion: Board member Ms. Johnson made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Atty. Iaconis, motion passed unanimously.

8) Case No. 21-868-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Lt. Matthew Solak represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Paul Hussey, Willimantic Police Department.

Motion: Board member Ms. Johnson made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Col. Lewis, motion passed unanimously.

9) Case No. 21-163-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf with one witness.  Sgt. Michael Livingston represented the Local Issuing Authority, First Selectman Julia Pemberton, Town of Redding.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit. Acting Chairman Futtner, Dr. Conrad, Atty. Ioconis, Ms. Johnson and Col. Lewis voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 5-1 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Vote was 5-1 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority at this time.

10) Case No. 21-560-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman Esq. with two witnesses  Det. James Iannucci represented 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. 

11) Case No. 21-103-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers.  The appellant appeared on his own behalf. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matthew Reed represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Decision: By an even decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant by tie vote. Acting Chairman Futtner, Ms. Johnson and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the State Issuing Authority. Dr. Conrad, Atty. Ioconis, and Col. Lewis voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 3-3 which defers in favor of the Appellant.

12) Case No. 21-823-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf with one witness  Ofc. Massimo Piroli represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Kevin Halloran, North Branford Police Department with one witness.

Decision: By an even decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant by tie vote. Acting Chairman Futtner, Atty. Ioconis, and Col. Lewis voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Dr. Conrad, Ms. Johnson and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 3-3 which defers in favor of the Appellant.

 

13) Case No. 21-134-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers.  The appellant appeared on her own behalf with one witness. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matthew Reed 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. 

 

Secretary’s Report:

Board member Atty. Sanetti made a motion to accept the minutes from November 3, 2022, seconded by Board member Ms. Johnson, motion carried.

 

Old Business: None

New Business: None

Adjournment: Board member Ms. Johnson made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Dr. Conrad, motion carried. Meeting ended at 1:35pm.