Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of November 21, 2011
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
The meeting was called to order at 12:52 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), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Peter A. McShane (Middlesex), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian Preleski (New Britain), Michael L. Regan (New London), Steven Sedensky (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John Smriga (Fairfield), and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney John Waddock (New Haven) .
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor, legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette, Communications Officer Mark A. Dupuis and Claire Nolin.
State’s Attorney Shepack made a motion, seconded by State’s Attorney Cohen, to accept the minutes of the October 17, 2011, meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that the Division has approval from the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to fill eight staff vacancies. Four involve federal funding, which leaves only four positions at this point that can be filled without conditions. The State’s Attorneys will be asked for input as to which specific positions are filled. There is no hiring freeze at the present time so the potential exists to fill any newly occurring vacancies.
A preliminary list of legislative proposals for the 2012 session of the General Assembly was distributed. Wilfred Blanchette reported on preparations for the session. The State’s Attorneys will be called upon to provide input and share their expertise as needed during the session.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on a personnel issue in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and its potential ramifications for criminal prosecutions. The Office of the Chief State’s Attorney is researching the matter.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Forensic Laboratory will not have its accreditation renewed by November as earlier anticipated. Approximately 400 cases awaiting DNA analysis are now listed as pending urgent cases. The State’s Attorneys were urged to renew their efforts to limit the number of items submitted for analysis. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle reiterated the importance of each State’s Attorney providing the laboratory with monthly updates so the laboratory is not analyzing materials for cases that have been disposed of.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane introduced Mr. McShane as the new State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Middlesex.
The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m. on a motion by State’s Attorney Froehlich, seconded by State’s Attorney Sedensky, and approved without opposition.