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Waukesha ordinance panel approves several bartender and business licenses; asks one applicant to return with employer agent
Summary
The Waukesha Ordinance and Licensing Committee unanimously approved multiple bartender/operator and business license applications and an extension of premises. One first-time applicant, James Davis, was asked to return with the employing agent (Bosco's) for verification before the committee makes a final decision.
The Waukesha Ordinance and Licensing Committee met at 6:00 p.m. and approved a batch of operator and business-license items on unanimous votes, but asked one first-time bartender applicant to return with his prospective employer.
The committee approved renewal and new operator applications for volunteers and paid staff, including a renewal for Jeffrey Bernhardt, a volunteer bartender at the Elk's Lodge, and operator approvals for Isabella Strader, Dallas Kinski and Megan Jo Meyer. The committee also approved an extension of premises for Club 400 (For the Record LLC) for an October event, and granted a junk-dealer license to Waukesha Iron and Metal. All votes taken were unanimous and those approvals will be placed on the Common Council consent agenda where applicable.
Why it matters: licensing decisions affect which individuals and businesses may serve alcohol or handle regulated goods in Waukesha City. The committee treated routine renewals quickly but paused on a first-time applicant where the record raised questions.
During the invited-application review for James Davis, committee members flagged multiple entries on his background report, including disorderly conduct charges and one domestic-abuse–related entry that the applicant said was dismissed. Davis told the committee, “I wasn't convicted of that … they said it was dismissed,” and described the domestic-related charge as resolved and some older disorderly conduct cases as from years ago. The chair said, “We usually like for the applicants to bring the agent with them,” and asked Davis to return to the committee’s next meeting with the agent for Bosco's so the employer can confirm they intend to hire him and accept responsibility under state licensing rules.
Committee members explained their discretion under state law (discussed as “state statute 125” during the meeting) is broad and that the panel considers an applicant’s whole record, including recent activity and any pattern of behavior. One committee member said they were concerned about what they described as a pattern in the record and preferred to hear from the employing agent before approving a first-time applicant.
Other applicants received prompt approvals after committee members noted they appeared to be addressing past issues. Jeffrey Bernhardt described participating in a deferred-prosecution agreement and counseling and said he has been sober; a committee member moved to approve his renewal and another member seconded the motion. The committee voted unanimously to forward Bernhardt’s renewal to the Common Council consent agenda.
Procedural notes: several approvals were placed on the council consent agenda and will only be discussed further if a council member removes an item. The chair advised applicants they may be able to serve in the interim if another licensed operator is present on the premises.
The committee received no communications from the clerk and adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
Next steps: James Davis is to appear with an agent for Bosco's at the committee’s next scheduled meeting (committee set a tentative date of October 13 for the next meeting); approved items will go to the Common Council consent agenda on the dates announced by the clerk.
