Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information
Minutes, Jan. 16, 2026
The regular monthly meeting was via Zoom.
Present: Michele Jacklin, Tom Scheffey, Mary Connolly, Mike Savino, Mitch Pearlman, Chris Powell, Jodie Gil, Katherine Revello, Paul Bass, Clare Dignan, Paula Pearlman, Colleen Murphy, Russell Blair, Liz Gemski.
The minutes for the Dec. 19, 2025 meeting were accepted.
Legislative update: Preparing for the 2026 legislative session, Jacklin suggested assigning some of the FOI bills to CCFOI members so testimony can be prepared. The board agreed. Gemski said a number of FOI-related proposals are coming from state agencies. She said top FOI issues include legislative privilege (the FOI constitutional issue raised by the attorney general), the voter file, home addresses of public employees, public university documents, school superintendents participating in school board executive sessions, the hate bill, data privacy such as the use of facial recognition and license plate readers.
Public access to home addresses: Gil discussed her research on the application of FOI laws to the public disclosure of home addresses. Privacy concerns are frequently cited because of today’s environment of political verbal threats and actual violent acts. She shared her work published in The Journal of Civic Information. Gemski said the framework adopted for state judges could be an option. Instead of exempting classes of employees or just adopting a blanket exemption to FOI requirements, a case-by-case process is preferred.
Treasurer’s report: Smith submitted her report but was unable to attend the meeting. The balance is $7,522.63. She asked board members pay their annual dues of $50 each. They can be paid to CCFOI through PayPal or sent by check to her at 12 Bethpage Drive, Bethel, CT 06801.
Looking ahead: The next CCFOI monthly meeting will be Friday, Feb. 20, at 9 a.m. via Zoom.