Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information
Minutes, April 17, 2024
The regular monthly meeting was via Zoom.
Present: Mike Savino, Tom Scheffey, Mary Connolly, Jeff Daniels, Michele Jacklin, Karen Florin, Mitch Pearlman, Chris Powell, Jodie Gil, Liz Gemski, Colleen Murphy, Russell Blair.
The minutes of the March 20, 2024 regular monthly meeting and the April 3, 2024 legislative update meeting were accepted.
Treasurer’s report: Smith was unable to attend the meeting but submitted her April report. The balance is $10, 063. She recommends setting a date for our yearly awards event, which we previously agreed should be returned to a date in June.
Annual meeting: We have agreed to separate the awards event and the annual meeting to elect officers and make future planning. Pearlman offered to again host this meeting in his backyard. He suggested June 19.
Legislative report: Gemski reported having good meetings with Speaker Matt Ritter and legislators about FOI-related proposals. We have to keep making the point that the FOI Act should not be changed, despite the many proposals to create new exemptions from the FOI Act.
Recruitment: Florin described conversations she is having as we seek to expand board membership. There was some discussion of whether working reporters would have a conflict serving on the board and the need to identify editors and columnists interested in serving on the board.
Looking ahead: The next legislative update meeting will be May 1 at 9 a.m. via Zoom. The next monthly meeting will be May 15 at 9 a.m. via Zoom.