TO: Freedom of Information Commission

FROM: Thomas A. Hennick

RE: Minutes of the Commission’s regular meeting of August 23, 2017

A regular meeting of the Freedom of Information Commission was held on August 23, 2017, in the Freedom of Information Hearing Room, 18-20 Trinity Street, Hartford, Connecticut. The meeting convened at 2:25 p.m. with the following Commissioners present:
                        
             Commissioner Owen P. Eagan, presiding
             Commissioner Matthew Streeter                                                                    
             Commissioner Jonathan J. Einhorn                                                               
             Commissioner Christopher P. Hankins
             Commissioner Michael C. Daly
             Commissioner Lenny T. Winkler            
                                                                                                                                                                Also present were staff members, Colleen M. Murphy, Mary E. Schwind, Victor R. Perpetua, Tracie C. Brown, Lisa F. Siegel, Kathleen K. Ross, Valicia D. Harmon, Paula S. Pearlman, Cindy Cannata, and Thomas A. Hennick.

The Commissioners voted, 5-0, to approve the Commission’s regular meeting minutes of August 23, 2017. Commissioner Streeter abstained.

Those in attendance were informed that the Commission does not ordinarily record the remarks made at its meetings, but will do so on request.               
                                                    
              
Docket #FIC 2016-0692     Bobby Nealy v. Vernon Riddick, Chief, Police Department, City of Waterbury; Police Department, City of Waterbury; and City of Waterbury
                          
Bobby Nealy participated via speakerphone. Attorney Richard Scappini appeared on behalf
of the respondents. The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report. The proceedings were recorded digitally.

Docket #FIC 2016-0693     Bobby Nealy v. Jeffry W. Cossette, Chief, Police Department, City of Meriden; Police Department, City of Meriden; and City of Meriden

Bobby Nealy participated via speakerphone. The Commissioners voted, 5-0, to table
the matter. The proceedings were recorded digitally. Commissioner Hankins recused himself from the
matter.
   
          
Docket #FIC 2016-0701     Abin Britton v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Correction; and State of Connecticut, Department of Correction

Abin Britton participated via speakerphone. Attorney James Neil appeared on behalf
of the respondents. The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report. The
proceedings were recorded digitally.


Docket #FIC 2016-0704     Jordan Smith v. Chief, Police Department, City of Bridgeport; Police Department, City of Bridgeport; Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Correction; and State of Connecticut, Department of  Correction

The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.

             
Docket #FIC 2016-0741     David Taylor v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection;  State of Connecticut, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Correction; and State of Connecticut, Department of Correction                

The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.

                  
Docket #FIC 2016-0665     Susan Red v. Chief, Police Department, City of WestHaven; Police Department, City of West Haven; and City of West Haven
                                                                      

The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.

Docket #FIC 2016-0699     Michael Courtney and the Office of the Chief Public Defender v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; and State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.

                      
Docket #FIC 2016-0706     William Freeman v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of State Police; and State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of State Police
                                                           

The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.

      
Docket #FIC 2016-0720     Dontrell Brown v. Chief, Police Department, City of Bridgeport; Police Department, City of Bridgeport; and City of Bridgeport

Attorney Tamara Titre appeared on behalf of the respondents. The Commissioners
unanimously voted to remand the matter to the Hearing Officer for further proceedings. The
proceedings were recorded digitally.

   
Docket #FIC 2016-0726     Paul Glossa v. Chief, Police Department, Town of North Branford; Police Department, Town of North Branford; and Town of North Branford
                                                                
The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report.

Docket #FIC 2016-0856     President, Woodridge Lake Sewer District and  Woodridge Lake Sewer District v. President, Torrington Water Company; and Torrington Water Company
                                                                            

Attorney Henry Zaccardi appeared on behalf of the complainants. Attorney Frederick Klein
appeared on behalf of the respondents. The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing
Officer’s Report. The proceedings were recorded digitally.

Docket #FIC 2017-0133     John Hodge v. Phyllis Schaer, Chairperson, Candlewood  Lake Authority; and Candlewood Lake Authority
                                                                  

John Hodge appeared on his own behalf. Phyllis Schaer appeared on behalf of the
respondents. The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report. The
proceedings were recorded digitally.

    

Docket #FIC 2015-147     Marissa Lowthert v. Bruce Likly, Chairman, Board of  Education, Wilton Public Schools; Christine Finkelstein, Chris Stroup, Laura Schwemm, Glen  Hemmerle, and Lory Rothstein, as members, Board of Education, Wilton Public Schools; and Wilton Public Schools
                                                              

Marissa Lowthert appeared on her own behalf. Attorney Christopher Tracey appeared
on behalf of the respondents.  The Commissioners unanimously voted to deny the Complainant’s
Request for Review of Procedural Orders, pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. 4-178, filed August 16,
2017. The Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the Hearing Officer’s Report. The
proceedings were recorded digitally.   

The Commissioners unanimously voted to affirm the Executive Director’s decision not to schedule in Laura Roche v. David Freedman, as member, Board of Education, Newtown Public Schools; and Kathy Hamilton, as member, Board of Education, Newtown Public Schools, Docket # FIC 2016-0722 and Laura Terry v. Kathy Hamilton, as member, Newtown Board of Education; and David Freedman, as member, Newtown Board of Education, Docket # FIC 2016-0862. 

                  
Victor R. Perpetua reported on pending appeals.
                    
The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.

                                                        ______________                         
Thomas A. Hennick
MINREGmeeting 08232017/tah/08242017