The Common Council met 04/03/2024. One of the items they separated out for an individual vote was the recommendation to deny the bartender/operator license for Isaiah. As was discussed at the Safety and Licensing Committee meeting, Isaiah needs the license in order to move into a management position at the restaurant he works at. However, he has a criminal record, and although he has taken steps to turn his life around, two of his convictions are for things that, under Wisconsin state statute, disqualify him from being granted an operators license and also prevent him from being able to provide evidence of his rehabilitation. The committee was very apologetic but ended up voting 3-1 to deny his license application as state law required them to do.
Isaiah and his employer Stacy appeared at the Common Council meeting and again pleaded his case, but, as at the Safety and Licensing Committee, the Council, with apologies, voted 13-0 to deny his license application. Alderperson Denise Fenton (District 6) abstained from voting.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
Both Isaiah and his employer Stacy spoke before the Common Council. Isaiah told the Council he knew there were reasons why his application needed to be denied, “But I stand here before you hoping that maybe the persistence and the effort I’m showing you to show that I’ve become a completely different person than the man I once was, is enough to hopefully make you reconsider, and let me have my bartenders license.” He also noted that he himself would not be a bartender. He just needed the license in order to be a manager and oversee the employees who were serving drinks.
Stacy, the restaurant owner, also spoke to the Council. She had given Isaiah a chance not expecting him to work out, but he ended up doing an amazing job to the point that she promoted him to manager. “I would like you guys to reconsider the bartending thing, because if he doesn’t have his bartending license, he’s not able to be in the position that he’s in, and I really want to keep him there. He’s a great employee, which is very hard to find nowadays. And so, I would like for you guys to reconsider.”
Unfortunately, the Council could not grant him a license while remaining within the bounds of state law. This was confirmed to the Council by City Attorney Christopher Behrens.
Multiple alderpersons expressed their apologies to Isaiah and the desire that they could vote differently. Alderperson Kristin Alfheim particularly wished him well, saying, “I hope that the gentleman continues on his path. And as a former restaurant manager, I understand we see talent and we want the best for them. We want to be able to hold them in our organizations and add value. So, my hope is that the owner continues to find success and [Isaiah] does find success in this community and continues forward in that mission. It’s unfortunately we can’t make this happen. But continuing to success to you, sir.”
The Council ended up voting 13-0 to deny the license application with Alderperson Fenton abstaining.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1171631&GUID=B24EBD3F-50C1-4017-A9E2-4DA9177FF156
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