The Waukesha City Ordinance and Licensing Committee on Oct. 13 approved three operator (bartender) license applications and postponed action on two others after questioning applicants and their employing agents about criminal histories and training.

Committee members said they wanted to balance public‑safety concerns with employment opportunities while ensuring employers would supervise and vouch for employees who would work behind the bar.

The committee approved an operator's license for Zamaya Maria Rose Kloske, whose agent, Lana, general manager at Buffalo Wild Wings, told the committee Kloske had completed a 30‑day bartending trial and the company requires licensing to continue the position. Alicia (committee member) made the motion to approve and Alderson Manion seconded; the committee voted unanimously, 5–0–0, to forward the approval to the city council. The chair said the matter will appear on the council consent agenda at the next council meeting and the applicant may pick up the license after council approval.

The committee also approved licenses for Jennifer Marcella Bloomer and Marion Ferris after agents or managers described recent employment history and training. In both cases, committee members said the incidents on each applicant's record appeared to be one‑off or remote in time and that their employers vouched for their performance. Motions to approve passed unanimously and the approvals will be placed on the next council meeting consent agenda.

Two applications were not approved at the meeting. An applicant represented by the owner of Slice of Waka's shop (identified in the hearing as Henry Gacek) — who told the committee the applicant had been working in the kitchen and would be trained as a bartender if licensed — was held over. Committee members cited multiple disorderly conduct and alcohol‑related entries on the applicant’s record and said they preferred to see a period of supervised training before issuing a license. The committee agreed to “hold this” for about three months, with the applicant asked to return with the clerk’s office to schedule a follow‑up and with the employer prepared to vouch for the trainee after supervised shifts.

The committee also postponed a decision on Grace Marie Davis, a 19‑year‑old applicant with pending charges related to a recent motor‑vehicle incident, so that Davis’s manager or agent could attend the next meeting. Committee members said they were inclined to approve but wanted the applicant’s employer present; they set the next hearing date and asked the applicant to notify her manager.

All approvals voted by the committee will be forwarded to the common council for final action at its next meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Zamaya Maria Rose Kloske — Motion to approve made by Alicia; seconded by Alderson Manion; committee vote unanimous 5–0–0; to appear on council consent agenda.

- Jennifer Marcella Bloomer — Motion to approve made by committee chair; seconded by Alicia; committee vote unanimous 5–0–0; to appear on council consent agenda.

- Marion Ferris — Motion to approve made by Alicia; seconded (recorded); committee vote unanimous 5–0–0; to appear on council consent agenda.

- James Davis (applicant represented by owner Henry Gacek) — Held for approximately three months for supervised training; no committee vote recorded; applicant directed to contact clerk to reschedule.

- Grace Marie Davis — Postponed to allow applicant’s agent/manager to attend next meeting; no vote recorded.

Context and committee concerns

Committee members repeatedly asked whether employers would supervise trainees, how long the employers would train new bartenders before leaving them alone, and whether applicants’ records showed patterns of alcohol‑related offenses that would affect public safety. One committee member said the committee started inviting employers to hearings so managers would “see the record and know what they were getting themselves into.” Another member said the preference was for employers to vouch in person after a training period rather than have the committee issue a license immediately when records showed multiple past offenses.

The committee chair said approved licenses would go on the next council meeting’s consent agenda, and staff told applicants that licenses typically become available the day after council approval.

Ending

Applicants who received committee approval were told to expect the approvals to be placed on the council consent agenda at the next common‑council meeting and to pick up licenses from the clerk’s office after final council action. Applicants whose matters were held were given instructions to contact the clerk’s office to arrange a return hearing and to bring any supervising employer or agent with them.