Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information
Minutes of Annual Meeting, June 29, 2017
The annual meeting of CCFOI was at Pond House Café, 1555 Asylum Ave., West Hartford.
The minutes of the May 17, 2017 meeting were accepted.
Treasurer’s report: There is a balance of $7,003.69.
Legislative report: John Bailey of TCORS Capitol Group, our lobbyist, and Paula Pearlman of the Freedom of Information Commission discussed the 2017 legislative session. Pearlman’s report on the 2017 session is attached.
As Pearlman noted, the most important issue facing the commission has been the state’s budget crisis. Without an adequate budget, the commission cannot do its work. Bailey said CCFOI and FOIC have high visibility on our issues with legislators. He said the FOI pledge is a valuable tool.
Awards: Each year, CCFOI honors journalists and non-journalists who have contributed to the cause of open government. The Bice Clemow award honors a non-journalist. The Stephen A. Collins award goes to a journalist. Champion of Open Government awards go to journalists and non-journalists.
Clemow award: State Rep. Bob Godfrey of Danbury was honored for his legislative work in support of open government. “Bob has been a true, true friend of open government,” said CCFOI President Dan Klau in presenting the award. Godfrey said his work on open government issues has been “the passion of my life.”
Collins award: Journalist Denis Horgan was honored for his work in support of open government, including his work with the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government. He said he was “humbled” to be honored.
Champion of Open Government awards: The winners were Pat Sheehan and Paul Giguere of CT-N; Michele Jacklin, journalist and CCFOI legislative co-chair; and Karin Schwanbeck, a journalism professor at Quinnipiac University.
Officers: Current officers will serve another term: President Dan Klau, Vice President Zach Janowski, Secretary Mary Connolly, Treasurer George Lombardi, legislative co-chairs Michele Jacklin and Jeff Daniels.
Looking ahead: After a summer break, the next CCFOI meeting will be Sept. 20 at Wood-n-Tap, 99 Sisson Ave., Hartford.