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Waukesha committee denies bartender application after members cite state law on fourth OWI
Summary
The Waukesha City Ordinance & Licensing Committee denied Maureen Delgadillo’s bartender application April 28, 2025 after members said a fourth OWI is treated as a felony under state law and the city attorney recommended denial; the applicant apologized and described steps taken toward sobriety.
The Waukesha City Ordinance & Licensing Committee on April 28 denied bartender applicant Maureen Delgadillo after members said state law bars issuing alcohol-related licenses to people convicted of a felony.
Delgadillo told the committee she had a series of alcohol-related incidents that culminated in a most-recent offense in 2018 and apologized, saying, "I'm very sorry, and I'm so glad. I thank the Lord every day that I didn't hurt anybody." She described court-ordered requirements, forced sobriety while incarcerated, breath-testing supervision after release and participation in a recovery program.
A representative of the Ingleside Hotel, Delgadillo’s employer, told the committee the hotel performs background checks and that Delgadillo "has been employed in good standing" and the position would likely expand her hours. Several committee members said they were sympathetic to her rehabilitation efforts but were constrained by legal guidance.
One committee member cited a state statute and city-attorney guidance that a fourth OWI can be classified as a felony and said that guidance recommended denial. The committee then took a motion to deny the application; the chair announced the motion was made by Alderperson Mannion and seconded by Alderperson Helvins Laban. The motion carried with a vote the chair described as "3 yeses and 1 abstain," resulting in denial of Delgadillo’s application.
The committee noted it had no city attorney present at the table to confer with during the meeting but referenced an email from the city attorney indicating the legal bar. The meeting record does not include a city-attorney statement made in the room; the committee relied on the cited written guidance in reaching its decision.
The committee’s action was procedural: members distinguished their sympathy for Delgadillo’s rehabilitation from the legal prohibition they said applied to issuing an alcohol-related license to someone with a qualifying felony conviction. The applicant was thanked for her time and the committee proceeded to other agenda items.
