Freedom of Information Commission

of the State of Connecticut

 

 

In the Matter of a Complaint by                                    Final Decision

 

George W. Sicaras,

 

                        Complainant

 

            against                                                              Docket #FIC 1996-091

 

Hartford Corporation Counsel and

Finance Department, City of Hartford,

 

                        Respondents                                         September 11, 1996

 

 

            The above-captioned matter was heard as a contested case on June 14, 1996, at which time the complainant and the respondents appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and argument on the complaint.

 

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

 

            1.  The respondents are public agencies within the meaning of §1-18a(a), G.S.

 

            2.  By letter dated April 16 and filed April 17, 1996, the complainant appealed to the Commission alleging that the respondents failed to comply with the Commission’s order to provide him with certain records in contested case docket #FIC 1995-066, George W. Sicaras v. Finance Department, City of Hartford (hereinafter #1995-66).

 

            3.  In its final decision in #1995-066, the Commission ordered, in pertinent part:

 

The respondent shall forthwith:  (a) locate and retrieve the microfilm records of the requested legal bills from 1987-1990, and provide the complainant with photocopies of such records; and (b) provide the complainant with unredacted copies of the requested billing records from 1990 forward, both free of charge.

 

            4.  It is found that on February 26, 1996, the respondents provided the complainant with the unredacted copies of the requested billing records from 1990 forward, without charge.

 

 

Docket # FIC 1996-091                                                                                              Page 2

 

 

            5.  It is found that the respondents searched for the microfilm records of the requested legal bills from 1987-1990 on a computer index of such records using the vendor number assigned to the law firm which had submitted the requested bills to the city.

 

            6.  It is found that the respondents conducted a thorough search of the finance department’s microfilm records, which yielded only one payment voucher responsive to the complainant’s request, and that the respondents provided a copy of such voucher to the complainant on April 30, 1996, without charge.

 

            7.  It is concluded that the respondents have complied with the Commission’s order in #1995-066.

 

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

 

            1.  The complaint is hereby dismissed.

 

Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of September 11, 1996.

 

 

 

                                                                                    __________________________

                                                                                    Elizabeth A. Leifert

Acting Clerk of the Commission


Docket # FIC 1996-091                                                                                              Page 3

 

 

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:

 

George W. Sicaras

46 Bay Roc Road

Wethersfield, CT 06109

 

 

Hartford Corporation Counsel and Finance Department, City of Hartford

c/o       Karen Buffkin, Esq.

Office of Corporation Counsel

            550 Main Street

            Hartford, CT 06103

 

 

                                                                                    __________________________

                                                                                    Elizabeth A. Leifert

                                                                                    Acting Clerk of the Commission