Ashwaubenon board denies NUSPA massage-license appeal after staff cites undisclosed 2025 violation

The Village Board of Ashwaubenon on July 28 denied an appeal by applicant Sheng Yan seeking a new massage-establishment license for NUSPA, concluding the application contained missing and inaccurate information and that a background check revealed a recent municipal violation in Green Bay.

Wendy, a village staff member who presented the public-safety recommendation, told the board that the applicant answered "no" on a question about past massage-establishment violations but a background check showed a paid violation with an offense date of May 2, 2025. As the public-safety presenter explained, "the date of offense was actually 05/02/2025." The applicant, through an interpreter, said she had not understood some of the English-language paperwork and asked for another chance; the interpreter summarized that she "did not understand the form." Staff told the board the application included a certification that the applicant had the opportunity to review and accurately complete all portions of the form.

Trustee [mover] made a motion to deny the appeal "based on the fact that the application was missing information and it was inaccurate information," which a second supported. The board then conducted a roll-call vote and recorded unanimous support for the denial (seven ayes). The board chair said that if the appeal were denied, the prior denial by Public Works & Protection would stand; if the appeal had been granted the board could have issued the license with conditions. No conditions were imposed because the motion to deny carried.

Because the denial rests on the application contents and the background-check finding, staff noted the decision leaves in place the village’s threshold for disclosure on licensing forms and the opportunity to seek a future application processed on its own merits.