The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case on June 24, 2014, at which time the complainant and the respondents appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint.  After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found and conclusions of law are reached:

     1.  The respondents are public agencies within the meaning of §1-200(1), G.S.

     2.  It is found that, by email dated December 2, 2013, the complainant requested that the respondents provide her with copies of “applications for the Director of Finance position, [with] . . . personal information such as social security numbers [redacted].”

     3.  It is found that, by email dated December 3, 2013, the respondents denied the request, asserting that the requested records were applications submitted for an executive level position, and that such applications had been provided to a personnel search committee. 

     4.  By letter dated and filed December 3, 2013, the complainant appealed to the Commission, alleging that the respondents violated the Freedom of Information Act (“FOI Act”) by denying her copies of the requested records. 

     5.  Section 1-200(5), G.S., provides:

     6.  Section 1-210(a), G.S., provides in relevant part that:

     7.  Section 1-212(a), G.S., provides in relevant part that:

     8.  It is found that the requested records are public records within the meaning of §§1-200(5), 1-210(a), and 1-212(a), G.S.

     9.  It is found that the respondents maintain the records described in paragraph 2, above, and it is therefore concluded that such records are “public records” and must be disclosed in accordance with §§1-200(5), 1-210(a) and 1-212(a), G.S., unless they are exempt from disclosure.

     10. The respondents contend that the records, described in paragraph 2, above, are exempt from mandatory disclosure pursuant to §1-213(b)(2), G.S., which provides in relevant part that:

     11. Section 1-200(7), G.S., defines “personnel search committee,” as “a body appointed by a public agency, whose sole purpose is to recommend to the appointing agency a candidate or candidates for an executive-level position.” 

     12. The complainant contends, as follows:  first, that there is no public record evidencing or memorializing that the respondents created a personnel search committee, and, second, that, when the complainant made her records request, she was informed by the respondents that there was a personnel search committee comprised of one individual.  The complainant also contends that a single person cannot constitute a personnel search committee. 

     13. The FOI Act does not require a record memorializing appointments to a personnel search committee.

     14. It is found that, in 2013, the Town of New Fairfield needed to fill the Director of Finance position.  It is also found that the First Selectman of New Fairfield is the hiring and appointing authority for the town.

     15. It is found that the First Selectmen appointed the respondent Director as the only member of the “personnel search committee.”  It is found that the respondent Director began preparing a vacancy notice, which described the position and the required qualifications. 

     16. It is found that, once the vacancy notice was completed by the respondent Director, it was reviewed by the First Selectman.  Thereafter, it is found that the vacancy notice was posted.

     17. At or around the time the vacancy notice closed, it is found that the single-member “personnel search committee,” comprised of only the respondent Director, was expanded to include the First Selectman, and the Superintendent of Schools. 

     18. It is found that interested candidates submitted their application packages to the respondent Director, who then processed the application packages and forwarded them to the two other committee members.  It is found that the respondent Director received and processed twenty application packages. 

     19. It is found that, once the application process ended, the three-member “personnel search committee” reviewed the twenty application packages and narrowed the application pool down to six candidates.  It is found that one of the six candidates ultimately withdrew his application.

     20. Thereafter, it is found, the three-member “personnel search committee” was expanded to a six-member “personnel search committee,” consisting of the following individuals:  the Town Treasurer; the Chairman of the Board of Finance; the First Selectman; a member of the Board of Selectman, an Auditor and the Superintendent of Schools.  It is further found that the First Selectman appointed such members to the committee.  It is further found that the purpose of this committee was to conduct interviews, select three finalists for second interviews, conduct a second round of interviews, and, thereafter, to rank the three finalists.  It is found that this “personnel search committee” completed its tasks. 

     21. It is found that the First Selectman offered the position to the candidate with the highest ranking.  It is found that the candidate to whom the position was offered accepted the position. Thereafter, it is found that the First Selectman reported the applicant’s acceptance of the position to the Board of Selectman and to all other interested boards with whom the new Director of Finance would interface. 

     22. It is found that the “personnel search committee,” in its various iterations, described in paragraphs 15, 17, and 20, above, functioned solely to seek out, interview and select a candidate for the position of Director of Finance. 

     23. It is found that the position of Director of Finance is an executive level employment position, within the meaning of §§1-200(7) and 1-213(b)(2), G.S.

     24. It is found that the committee described in paragraphs 15, 17, and 20, above, is personnel search committee, within the meaning of §1-200(7), G.S.

     25. It is found that the records described in paragraph 2, above, are records of a personnel search committee, with the meaning of §1-213(b)(2), G.S.  It is further found that the respondents maintained the requested records in their capacity as members of a personnel search committee.

     26. With regard to the complainant’s contention that the fact that there is no public record of the creation of the personnel search committee invalidates the committee’s legitimacy, there is no requirement that a public agency appoint the member or members of a personal search committee on the record of a public meeting, or that modifications of a personnel search committee be conducted in public.  However, the respondents would be wise to consider making such appointments (and modifications) during open, public meetings so that there is a clear record of who has been appointed to such committees and by whom, and when such appointments occurred. 

     27. It is found that the records at issue, because of names or other identifying information, constitute records that would reveal the identifies of candidates for executive level employment within the meaning of §1-213(b)(2), G.S.  It is also found that the respondents do not have the consent of any of the candidates to reveal their identities.  In fact, it is found that all of the candidates who applied for the position of Director of Finance, but who were not selected for the position, objected to their identities being revealed. 

     28. Accordingly, it is concluded that, pursuant to §1-213(b)(2), G.S., the respondents are not required to disclose the records described in paragraph 2, above. 

     29. It is further concluded that the respondents did not violate the FOI Act by refusing to provide the complainant with the records described in paragraph 2, above.

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

     1.  The complaint is dismissed. 

Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of August 13, 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:

Theda Lambert
147 State Route 39
New Fairfield, CT  06812

Director of Human Resources, Human Resources Department,
Town of New Fairfield; Human Resources Department,
Town of New Fairfield; and Town of New Fairfield
c/o John F. Keating, Jr., Esq.
71 Route 39
Suite One
New Fairfield, CT  06812

____________________________
Cynthia A. Cannata
Acting Clerk of the Commission

FIC/2013-746/FD/cac/8/20/2014