Department of Public Health moves to revoke counselor license after allegations deemed admitted

Attorney Joelle Newton, counsel for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, told a hearing officer that the Department had filed exhibits 1 through 5 and would enter them into the record absent objection.

Newton summarized the Department's case, saying that in January and/or February 2026 the respondent, Sandra Wilcos, "used, abused, or used crack cocaine to excess" and also used marijuana to excess, and that she had "one or more mental or emotional illnesses or disorders" that, together with substance abuse, impaired her ability to meet the accepted standards of practice as a professional counselor. Newton said the Department was asking for revocation of Wilcos's professional counselor license.

The hearing officer confirmed notice had been sent to Wilcos's record address, 96 Chapel Road, South Windsor, Connecticut 06074, and to the respondent's email. The Department called Ms. Walker as a witness; Walker testified that she handles hearing requests and sends notices and confirmed that the notices were mailed and emailed and that Wilcos had responded to the exhibits email but did not appear at the hearing. The hearing officer formally found proper notice and found the petitioner in default of appearing.

Following that finding, the Department moved to deem its allegations admitted. The hearing officer granted the motion. The transcript records that Officer Cloud Klauser was present and available to testify but, given the admissions, the Department did not call the officer. In closing, Newton reiterated that the Department regarded Wilcos as a threat to public health and safety and requested revocation of the license; the transcript does not record a separate, final administrative decision revoking the license.

The hearing adjourned after the closing remarks. The record shows: notice mailed and emailed, the respondent did not appear, the hearing officer found proper notice and the respondent in default, the Department's motion to deem the allegations admitted was granted, and the Department requested revocation of Wilcos's professional counselor license. No formal revocation order appears in the provided transcript.