The Waukesha Common Council reviewed two invited operator (bartender) license applications that had been removed from the consent agenda and considered by the Ordinance & Licensing (O & L) committee. The applications were for Grace Marie Davis and Casey James Lewandowski.

Grace Marie Davis: O & L had reviewed Davis and her employer and recommended approval, citing a single recent incident and employer support. At the full council, the city attorney advised against issuing the license, citing state law that disallows issuance where a prior conviction is reasonably related to the licensed activity and arguing that five months is insufficient to show rehabilitation following an OWI. Council members split on weighing O & L's recommendation and the legal argument; after motions and seconding, the council denied Davis's application (vote announced 12–2).

Casey James Lewandowski: The council considered Lewandowski's application in a similar posture. After discussion and a motion to deny — citing a recent DUI within the current year and lack of a rehabilitation period — the council denied his application (vote announced 11–3 with one abstention).

Why it matters: operator/operator's licenses permit an individual to sell alcohol without direct supervision and are regulated under state law; the city attorney emphasized that state law bars issuance where a conviction is reasonably related and that rehabilitation periods are typically longer than the months that had passed in these cases.

Record of votes and procedure: both applications were removed from the consent agenda at the start of the meeting to allow full council consideration. The council recorded and announced the tallies for each application on the Nov. 4 meeting record.

Sources: O & L committee recommendations, city attorney remarks and council votes recorded during the Nov. 4 meeting.