Office of Governmental Accountability Board of Firearms Permit Examiners

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April 25, 2019 Minutes

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, April 25, 2019, 10am at the

Wethersfield Police Department, 250 Silas Deane Hwy.

Wethersfield, CT 06109

Call to Order

Chairman Frank P. Blando called the meeting to order at 10:00am.

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

Board Members Present: Chairman Frank P. Blando, Esq., Secretary Col. Kyle Overturf, Carolyn Futtner Esq., Gudrun Johnson, Mr. M. Peter Kuck, Chief Carl Rosensweig and Dr. William Sledge.

Board Members Absent: None

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

Hearings: Fifteen cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 18-170-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Chief Rosensweig made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, due to the appellant having a handgun disqualifier. Motion was seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion passed unanimously.

2) Case No. 19-033-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Corporal Fred Goncalees was present for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Michael Spellman, Groton City Police Department.

Withdraw: The appellant withdrew his case.

3) Case No. 19-136-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Sgt. Kim Nikola represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Armando Perez, Bridgeport Police Department.

Motion: Chief Rosensweig made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, due to the appellant having a handgun disqualifier. Motion was seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion passed unanimously.

4) Case No. 17-745-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Continued: This case was continued to May 16, 2019. After receiving an email on 4/24/2019, Appellant withdrew his case and the withdrawal was accepted by the State Issuing Authority.

5) Case No. 18-225-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Motion: Secretary Col. Overturf made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Ms. Johnson, motion passed unanimously.

6) Case No. 19-158-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. First Selectman, Ken Beausoleil was present for the local Issuing Authority, Town of Thompson.

Withdraw: The appellant withdrew his case.

7) Case No. 19-003-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Tpr. Konow was present for the Local Issuing Authority, First Selectman Betsy Petrie, Town of Lebanon.

Withdraw: The appellant withdrew his case.

8) Case No. 18-632-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Atty. John Diakun appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Christopher Chute, New Britain Police Department with one witness.

Motion: Secretary Col. Overturf made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Board Member Kuck, motion passed unanimously.

9) Case No. 18-208-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with one witness.

Motion: Secretary Col. Overturf made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Board Member Kuck, motion passed unanimously.

10) Case No. 17-764-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. No one appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Robert M. Scannell, Winchester Police Department.

Decision: This case has been marked off.

11) Case No. 19-390-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Sgt. Kenneth Keroack appeared for the local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Department with two witnesses.

Motion: Secretary Col. Overturf made a motion for the Local Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Board Member Kuck, motion passed unanimously.

12) Case No. 19-119-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Sgt. Klomberg represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Paul Hammick, Bloomfield Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Bloomfield to issue the pistol permit.

13) Case No. 19-060-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Sgt. Klomberg represented the local Issuing Authority, Chief Paul Hammick, Bloomfield Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Bloomfield to issue the pistol permit.

14) Case No. 19-094-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Lt. Paul Neves represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Scott Sansom, East Hartford Police Department.

Decision: By a unanimous decision, the Board voted to uphold the decision of the Local Issuing Authority, the denial of the pistol permit.

14) Case No. 19-134-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Atty. Brian Desautels.  Officer Omar Thomas (former Officer on NHPD) represented the Local Issuing Authority, Acting Chief Otoniel Reyes, New Haven Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered the Local Issuing Authority to issue the temporary pistol permit. Secretary Col. Overturf and Ms. Johnson voted in favor of the Issuing Authority.  Chairman Blando, Atty. Futtner, Chief Rosensweig and Mr. Kuck voted in favor of the appellant. Dr. Sledge abstained from the vote. Vote was 4-2-1 in favor of the appellant.

Secretary’s Report:

Board Secretary Col. Overturf made a motion to accept the minutes from April 11, 2019, seconded by Mr. Kuck, motion carried.

New Business:

The Board encouraged Attorney Ralph Sherman to put his client back on the docket as Norwich has not fulfilled their agreement made on October 18, 2018 to issue the appellant his pistol permit.

Adjournment: Board member Mr. Kuck made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Dr. Sledge, motion carried. Meeting ended at 12:40pm.