The above captioned matter was heard as a contested case on March 13, 1978, at which time only the complainant appeared and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint.

     After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found:

     1.  The respondent director is a public agency as defined by §1-18a(a), G.S.

     2.  On January 7, 1978, the complainant requested from the respondent director a complete list of all delinquent taxpayers who own property in the city of Bridgeport.

     3.  Having failed to receive a reply within four business days, the complainant appealed to this Commission by letter dated January 30, 1978 and received and filed herewith on January 31, 1978.

     4.  The respondent director is required to keep a record of those owners of property from whom taxes are due under Chapter 204 of the Connecticut General Statutes, entitled Local Levy and Collection of Taxes, which defines his duties.

     5.  Such information is found to be a public record within the meaning of §1-18a(d), G.S.

     6.  It is further found that the respondent director has wrongfully denied to the complainant his right to receive, promptly upon request, a plain copy of a public record in violation of §1-15, G.S.

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

     1.  The respondent director shall provide the complainant, within five days of the final decision hereof, with a complete updated list of all delinquent taxpayers who own property in the city of Bridgeport.

     2.  The respondent director shall further provide this Commission with an affidavit certifying compliance with Paragraph 1 of this Order.

     3.  The respondent director is notified that under §1-21i (d), G.S., when the Commission finds that there is no reasonable ground for the denial of a right created by §1-15, G.S., it "… shall fine the custodian or other official directly responsible for such denial not less than twenty nor more than five hundred dollars."  The Commission may further subject such individual to criminal prosecution under §1-21i(d), G.S.  Prompt compliance at this time, therefore, is not to be taken lightly.

Approved by order of the Freedom of Information Commission on March 22, 1978.