Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information
Minutes, May 17, 2017
The meeting was at Wood-n-Tap, 99 Sisson Ave., Hartford.
Present: Dan Klau, Colleen Murphy, Gary Gold, George Lombardi, Jeff Daniels, Mitch Pearlman, Dick Ahles, Michele Jacklin, Mary Connolly, Paula Pearlman, John Bailey, Chris Powell, Tom Scheffey.
Treasurer’s report: Lombardi reported a balance of $6,609.47 as of May 16, 2017. He distributed a list of paid and unpaid dues. There was discussion of contacting members about unpaid dues.
Legislative report: Murphy reported on proposed budget cuts that are expected to result in the loss of one FOIC employee. At this point, a bill that would put some limits on so-called vexatious users of the FOI Act is not moving forward.
CT-N: A bid was submitted by the nonprofit Connecticut Public Affairs Network to continue its work running CT-N, which is owned by the legislature. There has been public discussion of the legislature’s proposal to restrict coverage. CCFOI opposes those suggested limits.
Annual meeting: The meeting will be Thursday, June 29, at the Pond House Café, 1555 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, starting at 11:30 a.m. The café is part of Hartford’s Elizabeth Park. The ticket price is $55 per person.
Awards: Decisions were made on our annual awards. The Stephen A. Collins Award goes to a journalist. This year’s winner is Denis Horgan. The Bice Clemow Award honors a non-journalist. This year’s winner is State Rep. Bob Godfrey of Danbury. Champion of Open Government awards go to anyone who has contributed to the cause of open government. The winners this year are Michele Jacklin, CCFOI legislative co-chair; Karin Schwanbeck, a journalism professor at Quinnipiac University; and from CT-N, Paul Giguere, president and CEO, and Pat Sheehan, board chair.
Officers: Current officers were renominated: President Dan Klau, Vice President Zach Janowski, Secretary Mary Connolly, Treasurer George Lombardi, legislative co-chairs Michele Jacklin and Jeff Daniels.
Looking ahead: Annual meeting, June 29 (a Thursday), 11:30 a.m., Pond House Cafe, 1555 Asylum Ave., West Hartford.