Ledyard - In a letter to a New Haven paralegal who felt she was being denied public records by the town, Mayor Fred Allyn Jr. apologized for the problems and pledged to improve the town's compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.Heather Gonzalez, a paralegal working on behalf of an unnamed client preparing to sue the Town of Ledyard, had written to Allyn on June 1 seeking documents relating to the hiring of Peter Georgetti, the town's temporary engineer. On June 22, she requested copies of building permits for single-family homes that had not been given certificates of occupancy.

Heather Gonzalez, a paralegal working on behalf of an unnamed client preparing to sue the Town of Ledyard, had written to Allyn on June 1 seeking documents relating to the hiring of Peter Georgetti, the town's temporary engineer. On June 22, she requested copies of building permits for single-family homes that had not been given certificates of occupancy.Over the course of the summer, Gonzalez sent numerous letters requesting documents under the state Freedom of Information Act from the town, but received few documents. Allyn and town attorney Meredith Diette have said that most of the documents Gonzalez requested never existed.

Over the course of the summer, Gonzalez sent numerous letters requesting documents under the state Freedom of Information Act from the town, but received few documents. Allyn and town attorney Meredith Diette have said that most of the documents Gonzalez requested never existed.In September, Gonzalez and Allyn participated in two conference calls with an ombudsman from the state Freedom of Information Commission in an effort to avoid moving toward a hearing. At that time, it appeared that Gonzalez and Allyn were at an impasse.

In September, Gonzalez and Allyn participated in two conference calls with an ombudsman from the state Freedom of Information Commission in an effort to avoid moving toward a hearing. At that time, it appeared that Gonzalez and Allyn were at an impasse.On Oct. 6, Allyn sent Gonzalez the letter apologizing for the FOI dispute and promised annual training on Freedom of Information laws for town employees.

On Oct. 6, Allyn sent Gonzalez the letter apologizing for the FOI dispute and promised annual training on Freedom of Information laws for town employees. "I'm pleased that we were able to come up with a resolution that was satisfactory to her and to us," Allyn said.

"I'm pleased that we were able to come up with a resolution that was satisfactory to her and to us," Allyn said.But Allyn said he did not think his apology letter was everything Gonzalez, who had requested a formal apology and yearly training, had wanted.

But Allyn said he did not think his apology letter was everything Gonzalez, who had requested a formal apology and yearly training, had wanted."This was not the first draft and there were things I didn't feel a need to apologize for," Allyn said. "As this apology says, and it's sincere, we need to do a better job and we need to be more timely."

"This was not the first draft and there were things I didn't feel a need to apologize for," Allyn said. "As this apology says, and it's sincere, we need to do a better job and we need to be more timely."m.collette@theday.com

m.collette@theday.com