Office of Governmental Accountability Board of Firearms Permit Examiners

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MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, February 22, 2024, 10am (Amended)

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 10:06am.

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

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

Board Members Absent: None

Chairman Carolyn Futtner administered the oath to all witnesses.

Hearings: Twelve cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 22-645-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Eric C. Hard, Esq. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney John Grasso represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

2) Case No. 22-794-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Ofc. John Giordano represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Shawn Sequeira, Shelton Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

3) Case No. 22-797-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Lt. Derek Aivano represented the Local Issuing Authority, Col. Thomas Davores, Newington Police Department.

Withdrawal: The appellant withdrew his case.

4) Case No. 22-799-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Chief Marshall Porter represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Marshall Porter, Glastonbury Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Glastonbury to issue. Dr. Conrad, Mr. Gray, Col. Lewis, Col. Overturf and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Appellant. Chairman Futtner Det. Johnson and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Vote was 5-3 in favor of the appellant.

5) Case No. 22-611-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Sgt. Kenneth Keroack 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 Det. Johnson, motion passed unanimously.

6) Case No. 22-086-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney John Grasso represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

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 Ms. Johnson, motion passed unanimously.

7) Case No. 22-817-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Lt. Derek Aivano represented the Local Issuing Authority, Col. Thomas Davores, Newington 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 8-0 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

8) Case No. 22-785-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Sgt. Catherine Griffin represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Matthew McNally, IV, Berlin Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit. Chairman Futtner, Dr. Conrad, Ms. Johnson, Col. Lewis, and Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.  Mr. Gray, Col. Overturf, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 5-3 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

9) Case No. 22-343-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf with one witness. DESPP Legal Staff Attorney John Grasso represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Chairman Carolyn Futtner left the hearing during these proceedings.  Atty Stephen Sanetti took over as Acting Chairman for the rest of the hearing. 

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. Vote was 7-0 in favor of the State Issuing Authority. 

10) Case No. 22-808-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf.  Det. Victoria Ryan represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Jeffery Kreitz, Ridgefield Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit. Dr. Conrad, Mr. Gray, Det. Johnson, Col. Lewis, Col. Overturf, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.  Atty. Sanetti voted in favor of the Appellant. Vote was 6-1 in favor of the Local Issuing Authority.

11) Case No. 22-806-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. Corp. 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 in favor of the appellant and ordered New Britain to issue the permit.  Vote was 7-0 in favor of the appellant.

12) Case No. 22-790-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Corp. Counsel Mary Pokorski represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Matthew Marino, New Britain Police Department with one witness.

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 Det. Johnson, motion passed unanimously.

Secretary’s Report:

Board member Dr. Conrad made a motion to accept the minutes from February 8, 2024, seconded by Board Secretary Col. Overturf motion carried. Mr. Gray, Det. Johnson and Atty. Sanetti abstained. Vote 4-0-3 to approve.

 

Old Business: None

New Business: None

 

Adjournment: Board member Col. Lewis made a motion to adjourn seconded by Board member Det. Johnson, motion carried. Meeting ended at 1:56pm.