The above-captioned matter was consolidated for hearing with Docket #FIC 2014-199; Ethan Book v. Finance Director, City of Bridgeport; and City of Bridgeport, and Docket #FIC 2014-304, Ethan Book v. Finance Director, City of Bridgeport; and City of Bridgeport. 

     On August 11, 2014, the complainant filed by email a request for continuance in this matter, “for reasons of an accumulation of various matters of importance including the operation of my small business, various other legal matters and the pendency of my candidacy for state office.”  The Commission takes administrative notice of such email.  The hearing officer denied the complainant’s request on August 11, 2014, and the complainant was notified of such denial.

     The consolidated matters were scheduled to be heard as a contested case on August 14, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., at which time the respondents were present but the complainant failed to appear.  The Commission takes administrative notice of the complainant’s notice of appeal, which alleges that the respondents failed to comply with a request for records.  Upon the complainant’s failure to appear, the respondents filed an oral motion to dismiss, which the hearing officer granted.

     On August 15, 2014, the complainant filed a motion to reopen the hearing.  The Commission takes administrative notice of such motion, in which the complainant explained his absence due to error about the time that the hearing was scheduled to begin.  The complainant stated that he believed the hearing was scheduled for 2:00, and that he arrived at the Commission offices at about that time.  The hearing officer took no action on the complainant’s motion to reopen.

     The following order by the Commission is hereby recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above-captioned complaint:

     1.  The complaint is hereby dismissed.

Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of October 8, 2014.

__________________________
Cynthia A. Cannata
Acting Clerk of the Commission

PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-180(c), G.S., THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NAMES OF EACH PARTY AND THE MOST RECENT MAILING ADDRESS, PROVIDED TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION, OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.

THE PARTIES TO THIS CONTESTED CASE ARE:

Ethan Book
P.O. Box 1385
Fairfield, CT  06825

Finance Director, Finance Department, City of Bridgeport;
Finance Department, City of Bridgeport; and City of Bridgeport
c/o Gregory M. Conte, Esq.
Office of the City Attorney
999 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT  06604-4328

____________________________
Cynthia A. Cannata
Acting Clerk of the Commission

FIC/2014-088/FD/cac/10/8/2014