MINUTES
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY
BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS
Thursday, January 5, 2023, 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 10:08am.
Acting Chairman Futtner read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call. Eleven appellants were present, four appellants failed to appear. Ten Local Issuing Authorities were present along with the State.
Board Members Present: Acting Chairman Carolyn Futtner, Esq., Dr. Cynthia Conrad, Gudrun Johnson, Col. Chris Lewis, and Chief Carl Rosensweig.
Board Members Absent: Anthony Iaconis, Esq. and Stephen Sanetti, Esq.
Acting Chairman Carolyn Futtner administered the oath to all witnesses.
Hearings: Fifteen cases were heard in the following order:
1) Case No. 23-284-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Cameron L. Atkinson, Esq. with one witness. Staff Attorney for the Counsels office Dan Foster represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Department.
Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Waterbury to issue the permit. Acting Chairman Futtner, Dr. Conrad, Col. Lewis, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the Appellant. Ms. Johnson voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Vote was 4-1 in favor of the appellant.
2) Case No. 21-242-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matt 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 Chief Rosensweig, motion passed unanimously.
3) Case No. 21-240-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney Matt 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 Chief Rosensweig, motion passed unanimously.
4) Case No. 21-873-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Elias Martz represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Erik Costa, Middletown Police Department.
Motion: Board member Chief Rosensweig made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion passed unanimously.
5) Case No. 21-899-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Det. Stephen Jacques represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Karl Jacobson, New Haven 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 Chief Rosensweig, motion passed unanimously.
6) Case No. 21-485-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. Rachel Crosby represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Joseph McNeil, Stratford Police Department.
Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.
7) Case No. 21-876-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Lt. Patrick Malloy represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Edward Stephens, Wolcott Police Department.
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 5-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.
8) Case No. 21-220-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. 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 majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, the revocation of the pistol permit. Acting Chairman Futtner, Ms. Johnson, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the State Issuing Authority. Dr. Conrad and Col. Lewis, voted in favor of the apellant, at this time. Vote was 3-2 in favor of the State Issuing Authority.
9) Case No. 21-850-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Exec. Admin. Xiomara Bruder represented the Local Issuing Authority, Town Manager Jim Rivers.
Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.
10) Case No. 21-310-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. 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 majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, the revocation of the pistol permit. Acting Chairman Futtner, Ms. Johnson, Col. Lewis and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the State Issuing Authority. Dr. Conrad voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 4-1 in favor of the State Issuing Authority, at this time.
11) Case No. 21-841-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. Stephen Jacques represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Karl Jacobson, New Haven Police Department.
Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case, New Haven will issue the permit.
12) Case No. 22-001-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. Stephen Jacques represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Karl Jacobson, New Haven Police Department.
Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered New Haven to issue the permit. Vote was 5-0 in favor of the appellant.
13) Case No. 21-877-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. Ofc.Elliot Arroyo represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Erik Costa, 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. Vote was 5-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.
14) Case No. 21-185-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Staff Attorney Matthew Reed represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the State Issuing Authority, the revocation of the pistol permit. Acting Chairman Futtner, Dr. Conrad, Ms. Johnson, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the State Issuing Authority. Col. Lewis voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 4-1 in favor of the State Issuing Authority.
15) Case No. 22-024-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. David DuBord represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Jeffery Kreitz, Ridgefield Police Department.
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 5-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.
Secretary’s Report:
Board member Ms. Johnson made a motion to accept the minutes from December 8, 2022, seconded by Dr. Conrad. motion carried. Vote 5-0 to approve.
Old Business: None
New Business: Notified the Board that the office has sent out emails to all towns with the new laws that went into effect on 6/1/2022 asking them to look at the cases on our backlog.
Adjournment: Board member Chief Rosensweig made a motion to adjourn seconded by Board member Col. Lewis, motion carried. Meeting ended at 2:49pm.