Chief State’s Attorney’s Meeting
Minutes of the Meeting of December 21, 2020
The meeting was called to order at 12:34 p.m. by Chief State’s Attorney Richard J. Colangelo, Jr. The meeting was conducted remotely utilizing Zoom software in accordance with directives issued by the Governor because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also present: Deputy Chief State’s Attorney for Operations Kevin D. Lawlor; Deputy Chief State’s Attorney for Personnel, Finance and Administration John J. Russotto, State’s Attorneys Margaret E. Kelley (Ansonia/Milford), Maureen Platt (Waterbury), Stephen J. Sedensky III (Danbury), Joseph T. Corradino (Fairfield), Sharmese L. Walcott (Hartford), Dawn Gallo (Litchfield), Brian W. Preleski (New Britain), Michael A. Gailor (Middlesex), Patrick J. Griffin (New Haven), Michael L. Regan (New London), Paul J. Ferencek (Stamford/Norwalk), Matthew C. Gedansky (Tolland), and Anne F. Mahoney (Windham).
Also present: Executive Assistant State’s Attorneys John P. Doyle, Jr., Gail P. Hardy and Brett Salafia, Legislative Liaison Melanie Dykas and Director of Communications Alaine Griffin.
State’s Attorney Gailor moved to accept the minutes of the November 23, 2020, meeting. State’s Attorney Kelley seconded the motion and it passed with no one in opposition.
Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo reported on the Division’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including reviewing older, pending cases from lists produced by court operations in the Judicial Branch and making sure there aren’t too many cases on the docket in a single day. Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo reported that the Division of Criminal Justice will be part of the Phase 1B coronavirus vaccine rollout. He asked that State’s Attorneys continue to work with Human Resources regarding employees who test positive for or are exposed to COVID-19.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said there was no new information to report about the budget. Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo asked the State’s Attorneys to consider proposals to negotiate into new contracts for Division of Criminal Justice employees. He said he is working with Manager of Planning and Research Ivan Kuzyk on evaluating data from each Judicial District to determine how each District can be managed in the most effective way, and whether employees can move either temporarily or more regularly from Geographical Areas to Judicial Districts, and vice versa, to work on cases, as needed.
Chief State's Attorney Colangelo reported that he and Legislative Liaison Dykas met with the chairs of the Judiciary Committee to discuss legislation for the upcoming session. He said they were told to consider working with the Judicial Branch and Office of the Chief Public Defender on legislative proposals to be included in an omnibus bill because that is all the Judiciary Committee would be considering due to priority being given to COVID-19 matters and other issues.
Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo said he and Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto created new committees. He read the names of the members of each committee and said they would be posted on the internal website.
Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo said the new Case Management System (CMS) would go live on January 1. Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto said a list of questions regarding the system is being compiled and will be distributed at a later date.
Chief State’s Attorney Colangelo said the last session with Kenya Rutland, principal of KJR Consulting, would be held on December 22.
Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Russotto reported that he would soon distribute a policy drafted by State’s Attorney Griffin that addresses the handling of complaints that are made to the Division. He said complaints will soon be included in a Division-wide database.
There being no further business, State's Attorney Ferencek moved to adjourn. State’s Attorney Gallo seconded the motion and it passed with no one in opposition. The meeting adjourned at 1:48 p.m.