MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, May 12, 2016, 10am at the

6 Fairfield Boulevard, Wallingford, CT 06492

Call to Order

Chairman Frank P. Blando called the meeting to order at 10:05am.

Chairman Blando read the Introductory Statement and called the roll call. Eight appellants were present and one failed to appear. The State Issuing Authority, five local Issuing Authorities were present and one local Issuing Authority failed to appear.

Board Members Present: Chairman Frank P. Blando, Esq., Secretary Craig C. Fishbein, Esq., Dr. Charles Dike, James A. Greer, Esq., Ms. Gudrun Johnson, Mr. Peter Kuck, Col. Kyle Overturf and Chief Carl Rosensweig.

Chairman Frank P. Blando administered the oath to all witnesses.

Hearings: Nine cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 16-316-CD, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Ralph D. Sherman represented the appellant. Chief James Baraja represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Armando J. Perez, Bridgeport Police Department.

Agreement: Chief Baraja representing the local Issuing Authority, Bridgeport Police Department, informed the Board that it was agreed to issue the temporary pistol permit to the appellant.

2) Case No. 15-047-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf with one witness. Chief James Cetran appeared as the local Issuing Authority for the Wethersfield Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision, of the local Issuing Authority Chief James Cetran, Wethersfield Police Department, the denial of a temporary pistol permit.

3) Case No. 14-577-R, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Board Member Fishbein made a motion to find for the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, by default, due to the appellant’s failure to appear. Board Member Kuck seconded the motion, motion was carried unanimously.

4) Case No. 14-638-R, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Agreement: Sgt. Alex Giannone representing the State Issuing Authority informed the Board that it was agreed to issue the State pistol permit to the appellant.

5) Case No. 15-059-R, involving the revocation of his pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner Dora B. Schriro, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Agreement: The two parties, the appellant and Sgt. Alex Giannone representing the State Issuing Authority agreed to reschedule the meeting to July 14, 2016.

6) Case No. 16-277-CD, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. Attorney Ralph D. Sherman represented the appellant. A representative for the local Issuing Authority, Chief William McKenna, Middletown Police Department, failed to appear. 

Motion: Board Member Fishbein made a motion to find for the appellant due to a representative failing to appear for the local Issuing Authority, Chief William McKenna, Middletown Police Department. Board Member Kuck seconded the motion, motion was carried unanimously.

7) Case No. 15-082-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Officer James McKeown appeared for the local Issuing Authority, Chief Paul Melanson, Farmington Police Department.

Decision: By a majority, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the local Issuing Authority. Board Members Blando and Greer voted for the local Issuing Authority. Board Members Dike, Fishbein, Johnson, Kuck, Overturf and Rosensweig voted the appellant and ordered a temporary pistol permit to be issued to the appellant.

8) Case No. 15-080-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. Terry Boyko appeared for the local Issuing Authority, Chief Thomas Grimaldi, Bristol Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision, of the local Issuing Authority Chief Thomas Grimaldi, Bristol Police Department, the denial of a temporary pistol permit.

9) Case No. 15-071-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Jeff Foran represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Marc Montminy, Manchester Police Department.

Decision: By a majority, the Board voted to overturn the decision of the local Issuing Authority. Board Members Greer, Johnson and Overturf voted for the local Issuing Authority. Board Members Blando, Dike, Fishbein, Kuck and Rosensweig voted the appellant and ordered a temporary pistol permit to be issued to the appellant.

Secretary’s Report

1. Secretary Fishbein made a motion to accept the April 28, 2016 minutes as written, Board Member Greer seconded the motion, motion carried. Board Members Dike and Kuck abstained.

Adjournment: Board Member Kuck made a motion to adjourn, Board Member Fishbein seconded the motion, motion carried.