The Waukesha City Ordinance and Licensing Committee on Monday reviewed invited bartender and operator license applications and recommended approval of three applicants while deferring two for further review.

The committee recommended approval of Zamaya Marie Rose Kloski, Jennifer Marcella Bloomer and Marion Ferris (name as recorded in the application). Each approval will be presented on the council consent agenda at the next Common Council meeting. Two other applicants — James Davis and Grace Marie Davis — were not approved at the meeting. The committee agreed to hold those applications for follow-up: James Davis was asked to return after a period of on-the-job supervised training and Grace Davis was asked to return with her employing agent present.

Committee members said public safety and an applicant’s recent history were central to deliberations. “I’m just really concerned about the clear pattern of behavior based on your record,” committee member Alicia said addressing one applicant, adding she was “not ready to support you having a bartending license at this time.” The committee frequently urged employers who vouch for applicants to bring documentation and to be prepared to testify about on-the-job supervision.

Details and outcomes

- Zamaya Marie Rose Kloski: The committee received testimony from Lana, identified as the general manager at Buffalo Wild Homes, who said Kloski had been employed six months and completed a 30-day bartending trial. Committee member Alicia moved to approve and the motion passed. The committee recorded a unanimous recommendation and noted the item will appear on the next council consent agenda.

- Jennifer Marcella Bloomer: Tyson, identified as general manager at Chili’s, told the committee Bloomer had worked for the restaurant about six months and completed required training. A motion to approve passed unanimously and will be forwarded to the council.

- Marion Ferris: Committee members discussed a decades-old felony conviction and the city attorney’s explanation of state law on rehabilitation and the passage of time. Given the long interval since the offense and the applicant’s employment references, the committee voted unanimously to recommend approval to the council.

- James Davis: Applicant James Davis appeared with Henry (last name recorded as Gacek), who said he is the owner of the business that would employ Davis. Committee members expressed concern about multiple disorderly conduct and alcohol-related entries on Davis’s record and emphasized that an operator’s license allows unsupervised service. The committee discussed a path forward in which Davis could be trained while working under a licensed operator and return in approximately three months with further employer testimony. The application was deferred; no license was issued at the meeting.

- Grace Marie Davis: Grace Davis, who is 19 and employed as a shift manager at Walgreens, disclosed multiple pending charges stemming from a recent incident. Committee members noted that pending charges generally cannot be weighed unless they are statutory “exempt offenses” (very serious crimes); nonetheless, because the incident is recent and she is underage, members asked that her employing agent attend the next committee meeting. The committee agreed to hold the application for the next scheduled meeting so the agent can appear and answer questions.

Committee procedure and next steps

The committee indicated approved licenses will be forwarded to the Common Council on the next consent agenda; license issuance typically follows council approval and the successful applicants are required to pick up the physical license or request mailing from the clerk’s office. Deferred applicants were given guidance on how to return for reconsideration: employers should be prepared to testify about on-the-job supervision and applicants should provide progress evidence if requested.

Ending

Committee members emphasized that employer oversight and a period of supervised training are common conditions the committee uses when concerns arise, and encouraged applicants and agents to work with the clerk’s office to schedule return appearances as needed.