Due to public health concerns, CONTESTED CASE HEARINGS scheduled for the weeks of March 16 and March 23 are POSTPONED. The regular meeting of the FOI Commission scheduled for March 25, 2020, is CANCELED.

TO: Freedom of Information Commission
FROM: Thomas A. Hennick
RE: Minutes of the Commission’s regular meeting of April 26, 2017

A regular meeting of the Freedom of Information Commission was held on April 26, 2017, in the Freedom of Information Hearing Room, 18-20 Trinity Street, Hartford, Connecticut. The meeting convened at 2:05 p.m. with the following Commissioners present:
                        
             Commissioner Owen P. Eagan, presiding
             Commissioner Jonathan J. Einhorn
             Commissioner Matthew Streeter
             Commissioner Christopher Hankins
             Commissioner Lenny T. Winkler
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Also present were staff members, Colleen M. Murphy, Mary E. Schwind, Victor R. Perpetua, Lisa F. Siegel, Kathleen K. Ross, Valicia D. Harmon, Paula S. Pearlman, Cindy Cannata, and Thomas A. Hennick.
The Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the Commission’s regular meeting minutes of April 12, 2017.
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 2016-0410                John Kaminski v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Correction; and State of Connecticut, Department  of Correction
                
The Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Docket #FIC 2016-0612                John Kaminski v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Correction; and State of Connecticut, Department of Correction
The Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.
             
             
Docket #FIC 2016-0455                Ian Cooke v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Correction; and State of Connecticut, Department of Correction
                                                                       
Ian Cooke participated via speakerphone. Attorney James Neil appeared on behalf of
the respondents. The Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the Hearing Officer’s
Report. The proceedings were recorded digitally.

Docket #FIC 2016-0375                Jonathan Pelto v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Education; and State of Connecticut, Department of Education
Assistant Attorney General Ralph Urban appeared on behalf of the respondents. The
Commissioners voted, 4-0 to amend the Hearing Officer’s Report. The Commissioners voted, 4-0
to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report as amended.*  Commissioner Hankins recused himself
from the matter. The proceedings were recorded digitally.      
             
Docket #FIC 2016-0443                James Torlai v. Chief, Police Department, City of New Britain; Police Department, City of New Britain; and City of New Britain

The Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.
                 
Docket #FIC 2016-0483                Anna Neumon v. Dante Bartolomeo, Member, State of Connecticut, State Senate
  
The Commissioners voted, 3-0, to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report. Commissioners
 Eagan and Hankins recused themselves from the matter. The proceedings were recorded digitally.      

Docket #FIC 2016-0534                Douglas Fleming and Kevin Brolin v. President, Board of Directors, Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial; and Board of Directors, Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial

Douglas Fleming appeared on his behalf of the complainants. Attorney Scott
Orenstein appeared on behalf of the respondents. The Commissioners unanimously voted to
approve the Hearing Officer’s Report. The proceedings were recorded digitally.
    
Docket #FIC 2016-0544                Jay Dempsey v. Mayor, City of Groton; and City of Groton
Jay Dempsey appeared on his own behalf. Attorney Al Bruno appeared on behalf of the
respondents. Attorney William Fish appeared on behalf of the intervenor, Thomas Valley
Communications. The Commissioners voted, 3-0, to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Commissioner Winkler recused herself from the matter. Commissioner Einhorn did not
participate in the matter. The proceedings were recorded digitally.

Docket #FIC 2016-0682                Jay Dempsey v. Mayor, City of Groton; and City of Groton
Jay Dempsey appeared on his own behalf. Attorney Al Bruno appeared on behalf of the
respondents. Attorney William Fish appeared on behalf of the intervenor, Thomas Valley
Communications. The Commissioners voted, 3-0, to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Commissioner Winkler recused herself from the matter. Commissioner Einhorn did not
participate in the matter. The proceedings were recorded digitally.
  
Docket #FIC 2016-0548                Maurice Kirk Carr, Jr. v. First Selectman, Town of Clinton; and Town of Clinton                                                          
The Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.

Docket #FIC 2016-0632                Lauren Sievert, Mike Savino and the Meriden Record Journal v. Chief, Police Department, City of Meriden; Police Department, City of Meriden; and City of Meriden
                                                           
The Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.               

Docket #FIC 2016-0705                Lorraine Tirella v. Steven S. Macary, Zoning Enforcement Official, Town of Oxford; Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission, Town of Oxford; Planning and ZoningCommission, Town of Oxford; and Town of Oxford
  
Lorraine Tirella appeared on her own behalf. Attorney Peter Olson appeared on behalf
of the respondents. The Commissioners voted, 4-0, to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.
Commissioner Einhorn did not participate in the matter. The proceedings were recorded digitally.

Docket #FIC 2016-0749                Lorraine Tirella v. Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission, Town of Oxford; Planning and Zoning Commission, Town of Oxford; and Town of Oxford

Lorraine Tirella appeared on her own behalf. Attorney Peter Olson appeared on
behalf of the respondents. The Commissioners voted, 4-0, to approve the Hearing Officer’s
Report. Commissioner Einhorn did not participate in the matter. The proceedings were recorded
digitally.

Docket #FIC 2016-0873                Caryn Dickau v. Coordinator, Health Patient Relations, State of Connecticut, University of Connecticut Health Center; and State of Connecticut, University of Connecticut Health Center

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

Docket #FIC 2017-0018                Joe Rodorigo v. Chairman, Planning and Zoning Commission, Town of Beacon Falls; and Zoning Commission, Town of Beacon Falls
The Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.

Docket #FIC 2017-0035                Karen Haley v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services; and State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services

 The Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the Hearing Officer’s Report.
  
Victor R. Perpetua reported on pending appeals. 
      
Colleen M. Murphy reported that the annual FOI Conference held April 21 at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Landing was a success. More than 145 people were in attendance.
Colleen M. Murphy reported on legislation.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
                                                        ______________                         
Thomas A. Hennick
MINREGmeeting 04262017/tah/04272017

*   See Attached for Amendment

              AMENDMENT
              
Docket #FIC 2016-0375                   Jonathan Pelto v. Commissioner, State of Connecticut, Department of Education; and State of Connecticut, Department of Education
                                                                            
                                                                          
Paragraph 17 of the Hearing Officer’s Report is amended as follows:
17. It is further found that IC-2016-0375-1 through IC-2016-0375-5 are intra-agency
[records] RECOMMENDATIONS comprising part of the process by which governmental decisions and policies are formulated, within the meaning of §1-210(e)(1), G.S., and that none is a preliminary draft of a memorandum, prepared by a member of the staff of a public agency, which is subject to revision prior to submission to or discussion among the members of the agency.