MINUTES

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY

BOARD OF FIREARMS PERMIT EXAMINERS

Thursday, July 11, 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.  Thirteen appellants were present, four appellants failed to appear. The State Issuing Authority and eleven local Issuing Authorities were present and one failed to appear.

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

Board Members Absent: None

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

Hearings: Seventeen cases were heard in the following order:

1) Case No. 19-220-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by Jonathan J. Klein, Esq. Chief John Lynch represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief John Lynch, Wilton Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Wilton to issue the permit. Board member Kuck voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Chairman Blando, Secretary Overturf, Dr. Conrad, Atty Futtner, Atty. Iaconis, Ms. Johnson, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the appellant.

2) Case No. 19-387-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: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Board Member Kuck, motion passed unanimously.

3) Case No. 18-426-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Sgt. Kim Nikola represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Armando Perez, Bridgeport Police Department.

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

4) Case No. 18-343-R, involving the revocation of a pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. Sgt. Alex Giannone represented the State Issuing Authority, Commissioner James C. Rovella, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Withdrew:  The appellant withdrew her case.

5) Case No. 18-385-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: Board Secretary Overturf made a motion for the State Issuing Authority, by default, due to the appellant failing to appear. Motion was seconded by Board Member Johnson, motion passed unanimously.

6) Case No. 18-429-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  No one appeared to represent the Local Issuing Authority, First Selectman, Lori Spielman, Town of Ellington.

Withdrew:  The appellant withdrew his case.

7) Case No. 18-354-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.

Withdrew:  The appellant withdrew his case.

8) Case No. 19-085-D, 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.

Withdrew:  The appellant withdrew his case.

9) Case No. 19-402-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear.  Sgt. Kim Nikola represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Armando Perez, Bridgeport Police Department.

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

10) Case No. 18-624-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant failed to appear. Dep. Chief Christian Lindstrom appeared for the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Scott Custer, South Windsor Police Department.

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

Reopened case 19-402-D Vote was 6-2 in favor of reopening the case. Chief Rosensweig and Ms. Johnson voted in favor to not reopen the case, Chairman Blando, Secretary Overturf, Dr. Conrad, Atty. Futtner, Atty. Iaconis, and Mr. Kuck voted in favor to reopen this case.

9) Case No. 19-402-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant arrived 1 ½ hours late.  Sgt. Kim Nikola represented the Local Issuing Authority, Chief Armando Perez, Bridgeport 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.

11) Case No. 19-219-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant was represented by John C. Drapp, Esq. Det. Joseph Legen was present for the local Issuing Authority, Chief Joseph McNeil, Stratford Police Department.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Stratford to issue the permit. Board member Johnson voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Chairman Blando, Secretary Overturf, Dr. Conrad, Atty Futtner, Atty. Iaconis, Mr. Kuck, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the appellant.

12) Case No. 19-333-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on her own behalf. Sgt. Kenneth Keroack appeared for the local Issuing Authority, Chief Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Department with one witness.

Decision: By a majority decision, the Board voted in favor of the appellant and ordered Stratford to issue the permit. Board member Futtner voted in favor of the Local Issuing Authority. Chairman Blando, Secretary Overturf, Dr. Conrad, Atty. Iaconis, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Kuck, and Chief Rosensweig voted in favor of the appellant.

13) Case No. 19-124-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. Joseph Legen was present for the local Issuing Authority, Chief Joseph McNeil, Stratford Police Department.

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

14) Case No. 19-295-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. Joseph Legen was present for the local Issuing Authority, Chief Joseph McNeil, Stratford Police Department with one witness.

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

2:00pm: Attorney Carolyn Futtner leaves the hearing.

15) Case No. 18-391-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf. Det. Angelo Stavrides appeared for the local Issuing Authority, Chief Jeffry Cossette, Meriden 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 at this time.

2:35pm: Board member Gudrun Johnson leaves the hearing

16) Case No. 19-415-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Det. Marenholz appeared for the local Issuing Authority, Chief John Daly, Southington Police Department with one witness.

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

17) Case No. 19-382-D, involving the denial of a temporary pistol permit to carry pistols and revolvers. The appellant appeared on his own behalf.  Ofc. Bryan Kowalsky appeared for the local Issuing Authority, Sgt. Michael Rondinone, Town of Colchester.

Withdrew:  The appellant withdrew his case.

Secretary’s Report:

Board member Dr. Conrad made a motion to accept the minutes from June 20, 2019, seconded by Col. Overturf.

New Business:

Adjournment: Board member Mr. Kuck made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Col. Overturf, motion carried. Meeting ended at 3:15pm.