Chief State's Attorney's Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of December 18, 2017
Office of the Chief State's Attorney
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane called the meeting to order at 12:41 p.m.
In attendance were: Deputy Chief State’s Attorneys Leonard C. Boyle and John J. Russotto; State’s Attorneys Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), Patrick J. Griffin (New Haven), 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), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), David Shepack (Litchfield) and John C. Smriga (Fairfield).
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys Brian Austin, Jr., and Michael A. Gailor, Legislative liaison Wilfred Blanchette, Jr., and Communications and Legislative Specialist Mark A. Dupuis.
State’s Attorney Sedensky made a motion to accept the minutes of the November 20, 2017, meeting. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto distributed a memorandum listing vacancies currently considered most urgent to be filled. The Division anticipates filling approximately 10 of the 61 current vacancies, although the situation could change depending on budget developments. It is anticipated that some personnel assigned to specialized units in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney will be moved to other locations in accordance with applicable collective bargaining provisions. All future vacancies will be examined on a case-by-case basis and positions will be filled although not necessarily at the same location and/or classification. The Division will continue to pursue additional resources through the Office of Policy and Management and the General Assembly.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto distributed a preliminary draft of a strategic business plan for the Judicial Districts. There was discussion of the parameters and benefits of such a plan and its implementation. State’s Attorney Lawlor has submitted a plan for the Ansonia/Milford Judicial District. State’s Attorney Preleski volunteered to draft a plan for the New Britain Judicial District and distribute it to the State’s Attorneys for review before the end of the year. A vote on approving a template may be conducted by email prior to the next meeting.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto has contacted the University of Connecticut School of Public Policy concerning possible additional management training for the State’s Attorneys. Justices Richard A. Robinson and Maria Araujo Kahn have expressed willingness to present their Judicial Branch training program on diversity and cultural competence to the State’s Attorneys at a future date, possibly in June as part of the Annual Professional Development Conference for Prosecutors.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane reported that work is continuing on a draft ethics policy for the Division.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle reported that the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Division of Scientific Services is establishing an electronic portal for the delivery of certain reports on analysis of cellular telephones and other electronic devices. Each State’s Attorney should submit to Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Boyle the names of two employees in their Judicial District who should be given access to the portal.
Chief State’s Attorney Kane asked the State’s Attorneys to recommend volunteers to serve on a working group established by the Connecticut Sentencing Commission on sentence review, sentence modification and motions to correct sentences.
Executive Assistant State’s Attorney Austin reported that all State’s Attorneys have been notified of any prosecutors who have yet to meet training requirements for 2017. Questions should be directed to Grants and Contracts Manager Mitchell S. Forman. The State’s Attorneys’ Training Committee will meet prior to the January 2018 meeting at 11 a.m.
State’s Attorney Sedensky reported that he is sending draft standards for multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) to the State’s Attorneys by email. The draft should be forwarded to the appropriate personnel in each Judicial District for review and comment.
There being no further business, State’s Attorney Shepack made a motion to adjourn. State’s Attorney Sedensky seconded the motion and it passed without opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 2:32 p.m.