Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of March 21, 2011

Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

The meeting was called to order at 12:40 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane.

Also in attendance were: Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle (Operations) and John J. Russotto (Personnel, Finance and Administration); State’s Attorneys David I. Cohen (Stamford-Norwalk), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Scott J. Murphy (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London) and David Shepack (Litchfield); Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys C. Robert Satti, Jr. (Fairfield) and John Waddock (New Haven); and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Maureen Platt Temchin (Middlesex).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor, Mark A. Dupuis, Division of Criminal Justice Communications Officer, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Judith R. Dicine (Housing Matters).

State’s Attorney Froehlich made a motion to accept the minutes of the February 28, 2011, meeting. State’s Attorney Cohen seconded the motion, and it passed on a voice vote.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported on the agency budget presentation before the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee and the subsequent meeting with the Judicial and Corrections subcommittee. The Division remains hopeful that a training coordinator position will be added to the budget. The Division received positive feedback on its management structure in light of concerns raised about the number of management positions in state government. Negotiations continue with state employee unions to achieve cost savings included in the Governor’s recommended budget.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Dicine for a discussion of how the Division can address criminal Housing Matters in light of a reduction in full-time housing prosecutors. Three prosecutors are now assigned full-time to the Housing Session; at one time the number was five. The State’s Attorneys were asked to submit to Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle the name one prosecutor from each Geographical Area (G.A.) to receive training on handling housing matters and to serve as a resource for police and safety code enforcement personnel. Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Dicine will continue to be available to assist with training and complex cases. Training on housing prosecution will be offered at the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) on April 3, 2011, and May 5, 2011, and again as part of the Division’s Annual Prosecutor Training in June. The State’s Attorneys should also consider having Inspectors and Investigators participate in the training so they also can respond to inquiries on criminal housing matters.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane thanked the State’s Attorneys for their assistance in reviewing legislation and contributing to the Division’s testimony on bills pending in the General Assembly.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Sentencing Commission established pursuant to Public Act 10-129 has created a research subcommittee. The State’s Attorneys are welcomed to offer their input and suggestions for areas to be reviewed by the Sentencing Commission.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the Division is preparing testimony on S.B. No. 1097, An Act Concerning Reports on the Training of Prosecutorial Officials.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that Governor Dannel P. Malloy will be the Special Guest Speaker at the Multicultural Luncheon sponsored by the Employee Committee on Diversity Issues. The luncheon will be held Thursday, March 24, 2011, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Rocky Hill training center.

There being no further business, State’s Attorney Cohen moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Froehlich and passed on a voice vote at 1:25 p.m.