MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, April 25, 2024, 10am

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

1111 Country Club Rd., Middletown, CT 06457

 

 

Call to Order

Chairman Carolyn Futtner called the meeting to order at 10:01am.

Chairman Futtner read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call.  Eleven appellants were present, three appellants failed to appear. Ten Local Issuing Authorities were present along with the State, three Issuing Authority failed to appear.

Board Members Present: Chairman Carolyn Futtner, Esq., Dr. Cynthia Conrad,  Col. Chris Lewis, Col. Kyle Overturf, Chief Carl Rosensweig, and Stephen Sanetti, Esq.

Board Members Absent: Elbert Gray and Det. Gudrun Johnson

Chairman Carolyn Futtner administered the oath to all witnesses.

Hearings: Fourteen cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 22-384-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman.  No one represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Stephen Pugner, Bethel Police Department.

Motion: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the Appellant, by default, due to the Issuing Authority failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Col. Lewis, motion passed unanimously.

2) Case No. 22-404-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman.  No one represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Stephen Pugner, Bethel Police Department.

Motion: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the Appellant, by default, due to the Issuing Authority failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Col. Lewis, motion passed unanimously.

3) Case No. 22-847-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Ralph D. Sherman.  No one represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Stephen Pugner, Bethel Police Department.

Motion: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the Appellant, by default, due to the Issuing Authority failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Col. Lewis, motion passed unanimously.

4) Case No. 22-773-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Det. Matthew Molone represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Patrick Ridenhour, Danbury Police Department.

Withdrew: The appellant withdrew his case. 

5) Case No. 22-724-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf..  Lt. Arthur Weisgerber represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief James Walsh, Norwalk 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 6-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

6) Case No. 22-872-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Lt. Arthur Weisgerber represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief James Walsh, Norwalk Police Department.

Motion: Board Secretary Col. Overturf 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.

7) Case No. 22-923-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Captain Nicholas Mullins represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Christopher Vanghele, Plainville Police Department.

Motion: Board Secretary Col. Overturf 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.

8) Case No. 22-753-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. John Iommazzo represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Department.

Motion: Board Secretary Col. Overturf 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. 22-874-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf.  No one represented the Local Issuing Authority, Town Manager Mary Calorio, Town of Danielson.

Motion: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the Appellant, by default, due to the Issuing Authority failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Dr. Conrad, motion passed unanimously.

10) Case No. 22-791-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. DESPP Det. Michael Evangelisti represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell A.Higgins, 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, at this time.

11) Case No. 22-857-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Asst, General Counsel Mary Pokorski represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Matthew Marino, New Britain 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 6-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

12) Case No. 22-900-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Det. Robert Malinowski represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Rafael Medina, Wethersfield Police Department.

Withdrew: The appellant withdrew his case. 

13) Case No. 22-752-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. Sgt. John Iommazzo represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury 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 6-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

14) Case No. 22-744-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. John Iommazzo represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury 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 6-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

Secretary’s Report:

Board member Col. Lewis made a motion to accept the minutes from March 21, 2024, seconded by Col. Overturf. motion carried. Atty. Sanetti and Chief Rosensweig abstained. Vote 4-0-2 to approve.

Old Business: None

New Business: Addressing reconsideration on 2 cases….

Case 24-083-R was approved to be reopened this case after appellant made an effort to attend the hearing. 

Case 22-849-D was denied to be heard after brief discussion, thought his hearing was on a different date. 

Adjournment: Board member Atty. Sanetti made a motion to adjourn seconded by Board member Chief Rosensweig, motion carried. Meeting ended at 1:48pm.