FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION

OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

 

In the Matter of a Complaint by                        FINAL DECISION

 

Rose Ann Leahy,

 

                        Complainant

 

            against              Docket #FIC 90-178

 

The Committee on Committees, a subcommittee of the Bloomfield Town Council,

 

                        Respondent                  January 23, 1991

 

            The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case on September 13, 1990 and September 24, 1990, at which times the complainant and the respondent appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint.

 

            Attorney Marc Needleman requested that he be granted party status.  The hearing officer denied his request.

 

            After consideration of the entire record, the following facts are found and conclusions of law are reached:

 

            1.         The respondent is a public agency within the meaning of 1-18a(a), G.S.

 

            2.         By letter of complaint filed May 16, 1990, and amended June 1, 1990, the complainant alleged among other things that:

 

            (a)        there was an illegal unnoticed meeting involving two members of the respondent committee,  Deputy Mayor Marc Needelman, a Democrat, and Carl Reisner, a Republican, sometime prior to the meeting of the respondent on April 23, 1990; and

 

            (b)        the minutes of the April 23, 1990 meeting of the respondent committee were filed late.

 

            3.         At hearing the complainant withdrew certain additional claims other than those stated above, which were included in her letter of complaint.

 

            4.         It is found that there was insufficient evidence produced at hearing to prove the complainant's claim that there was an illegal unnoticed meeting between Deputy Mayor Marc Needleman and Carl Reisner, prior to the April 23, 1990 meeting.

 

Docket #FIC 90-178                           Page Two

 

            5.         It is found that the minutes of the April 23, 1990 meeting of the respondent committee were filed on or about May 16, 1990.

 

            6.         It is concluded that the respondent committee violated the seven-day time limit for minutes established by 1-21, 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 shall henceforth comply with the time limits for the production of minutes set forth at 1-21, G.S.

 

Approved by order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its special meeting of January 23, 1991.

 

                                                         

                                    Tina C. Frappier

                                    Acting Clerk of the Commission

 

Docket #FIC 90-178                           Page Three

 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-180(c), G.S. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NAMES OF EACH PARTY AND THE MOST RECENT MAILING ADDRESS, PROVIDED TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION, OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.

 

THE PARTIES TO THIS CONTESTED CASE ARE:

ROSE ANN LEAHY

15 Craigemor Road

Bloomfield, CT 06002

 

THE COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES, A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE BLOOMFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

c/o Bessye A. Bennett, Esq.

2 Barnard Lane

Bloomfield, CT 06002

 

                                                         

                                    Tina C. Frappier

                                    Acting Clerk of the Commission