Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting

Minutes of the Meeting of March 19, 2012
Office of the Chief State’s Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Note: These minutes were corrected by action of April 23, 2012, to correct the names of those in attendance.

The meeting was called to order at 12:41 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 Michael Dearington (New Haven), Patricia M. Froehlich (Windham); Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Gail P. Hardy (Hartford), Kevin D. Lawlor (Ansonia-Milford), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Brian W. Preleski (New Britain), Stephen Sedensky (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield), and John C. Smriga (Fairfield); Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney James Bernardi (Stamford-Norwalk) and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Kennedy (Middlesex).

Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor, Mark A. Dupuis, Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) Communications Officer, and DCJ Information Technology Manager Evelyn Godbout.

State’s Attorney Smriga made a motion to accept the minutes of the February 27, 2012, meeting. State’s Attorney Lawlor seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto and Information Technology Manager Evelyn Godbout presented an update on the information technology Infrastructure Upgrade Project. All installations of new desktop computers are scheduled to be completed by the end of October. A one-half day training program is required for all employees. The State’s Attorneys will be alerted to the names of all employees who may not be utilizing email or other computer resources as required.

Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported on the 2012 legislative session. State’s Attorney Shepack reported on discussions in the Sentencing Commission concerning possible legislation regarding the treatment of juveniles sentenced as adults.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle reported on a letter distributed to the State’s Attorneys from the Office of the Victim Advocate regarding the knowledge and understanding local police departments have with regard to the Leroy Brown, Jr., and Karen Clarke Witness Protection Program.

Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin reported on a meeting between the Chief State’s Attorney and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence concerning domestic violence issues. There was discussion of the best approach to address these issues.

Management: State’s Attorney Platt reported that the committee continues its consideration of a DCJ ethics policy and employee evaluation procedures, including examining procedures utilized by other jurisdictions.

Training: State’s Attorney Froehlich reported: (1) many training opportunities are now being offered to employees; (2) the State’s Attorneys are urged to encourage all prosecutors to attend the Annual Prosecutor Training Program even if they have met their statutory training requirements; (3) the committee is considering asking the Judicial Branch to set a third "arraignments only" day each year to allow another day for training; (4) the committee is considering sessions on leadership and for Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorneys as part of the Annual Prosecutor Training; and (5) the committee has drafted a professional development policy. The State’s Attorneys are asked to review the draft policy and submit their comments to State’s Attorney Froehlich by April 16.

Operations: Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle reported that the committee is continuing its work on a training memorandum regarding searches that may encounter privileged materials.

The Division’s annual Multicultural Luncheon is Thursday, March 22, 2012, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in the Rocky Hill training center. Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra will be the guest speaker.

State’s Attorney Lawlor made a motion at 2:35 p.m. to enter executive session to discuss personnel issues. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Sedensky and passed unanimously.

State’s Attorney Froehlich made a motion to end the executive session at 3:08 p.m. The motion was seconded by State’s Attorney Sedensky and passed unanimously. There were no votes taken during the executive session.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:09 p.m. on a motion by State’s Attorney Froehlich seconded by State’s Attorney Sedensky and passed unanimously.