Madison — The City of Madison Alcohol License Review Committee on June 18 approved an operator license for Sonia Montero subject to a customary condition: the committee asked the applicant to obtain a letter from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) documenting supervision status and supporting the license before the item reaches the Common Council on July 1.

Detective Lieutenant Tim Radke told the committee the application was flagged because Montero has an operating-while-intoxicated (OWI) history, including what was described in committee papers and testimony as four OWI offenses; the most recent incident was an April 30, 2023 arrest in Fitchburg. Montero addressed the committee in Zoom and said she has stopped drinking and has engaged in AODA and mental health treatment. "I no longer drink alcohol," she said, describing treatment and ongoing counseling with a named provider.

Committee members pressed for documentation. Montero said she had requested a supervisory letter from her probation officer but had not yet received it; she provided other treatment documentation during the meeting and said her AODA program completion and ongoing counseling were in place. Attorney and committee members encouraged Montero to pursue an agent-supervisor or supervisor-level letter if her assigned agent was out of office.

Following questions, the committee moved to approve the license "on the condition that, before the council meeting, a letter from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections is forwarded" to the clerk’s office. The motion was made by Miss Carter and seconded by Alder Revere; the committee approved the conditional recommendation by voice with no objections.

What the condition requires: The committee asked that documentation indicating the DOC agent’s awareness and assessment of Montero’s suitability for work in an alcohol-licensed premises be filed with the city clerk before July 1. Committee members explained this step is customary when applicants are under active community supervision, because the DOC agent is a source of current supervision information.

Why it matters: Operator licenses allow individuals to work in alcohol-serving roles and are governed by local licensing rules that consider character and public-safety risks. Multiple OWI convictions trigger heightened scrutiny; the committee’s condition reflects a balancing approach that approved continued employment while requiring confirmation from the supervising state agency.

Next steps: The license will be placed on the July 1 Common Council agenda. If the DOC letter is provided to the clerk before that meeting the council will receive the committee recommendation and supporting documentation; if the letter cannot be provided in time, Montero and the clerk were told the matter can be deferred to a subsequent meeting.