The caption above has been amended and restated to state accurately the legal names of the respondents. The above-captioned matter was scheduled to be heard as a contested case on June 14, 1999, at which time the complainant and the respondents appeared in order to present testimony and argument on the complaint.

        At an informal conference prior to the June 14, 1999 hearing, the complainant and the respondents reached the terms of an agreement in resolution of this contested case. The parties agreed that:

        1) there was a violation of the requirement to furnish minutes within seven days in connection with the respondent Board of Director’s meeting of March 14, 1999;

        2) the respondents will provide a notice to all members of the respondent District stating that mail directed to the respondents should be sent to the clerk of the respondent District at her home address;

        3) in order to meet Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") requirements concerning accessibility, a parallel set of the respondents’ files will be maintained in the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Woodstock, subject to the agreement of said Town Clerk;

        4) the complainant and Ray Hallowell will each receive a copy of all mailings provided by the respondent District to the respondent Board of Directors, unless and until the complainant and Ray Hallowell, respectively, agree to the discontinuance of the mailings provided to each of them; and finally,

        5) henceforth, the respondents will comply with the letter and the spirit of all aspects of the FOIA, including with reference to the timely delivery of minutes (even if unapproved) and statements of the reason for executive sessions.

        Based upon this agreement, the complainant informed the Commission that he wished to withdraw his complaint. The Commission warmly commends both the complainant and the respondents for working successfully to negotiate a non-litigated settlement of their earlier differences.

        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

July 28, 1999.

_________________________

Melanie R. Balfour

Acting Clerk of the Commission

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:

Arthur A. Bell
69 Research Parkway
Meriden, CT 06450
Board of Directors,
Quassett Lake Tax District;
and Quassett Lake Tax District
c/o Atty. Brian J. Kennedy
PO Box 683
Putnam, CT 06260

__________________________

Melanie R. Balfour

Acting Clerk of the Commission

FIC1999-197FD/mrb/08041999