The Safety and Licensing Committee met 04/23/2025. Lasting only 10 minutes, it was a short meeting. 4 ½ minutes of it was taken up by the bartender/operator license that was applied for by Angella, who was convicted of battery in 2024.
The committee ended up voting 5-0 to recommend the license be denied.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
Angella was recently convicted of Battery (a class A misdemeanor). Wisconsin State Statue 125.04(5)(a)1 states that licenses related to alcohol beverages may be issued only to persons who fulfill all of the following requirements, the first requirement of which is “Do not have an arrest or conviction record” subject to certain limitations which do not apply to a battery conviction. Police Lieutenant Ben Goodin stated in his memo to the committee the applicant “does not meet the requirement of Wis. Stat 125.04(5)(a)1. A license or permit related to alcohol beverages consequently may not be issued.”
In a lengthier memo Assistant City Attorney Zak Buruin laid out the legal issues associated with licensing requirements. Like Lieutenant Goodin, he concluded that due to her Battery conviction, Angella was not eligible for the license and that, therefore, the application should be denied.
Angella spoke to the committee briefly, saying, “I am here because I know that it got denied because of a battery, and the battery was between my daughter and I who is here with me. I pled guilty. I knew I was in the wrong, but bartending is my livelihood. That’s how I provide for my family, for my kids. And in the 24 years I’ve been bartending, I know that I did make a mistake, and I would like you guys to possibly change your mind.”
The committee confirmed with Assistant City Attorney Darrin Glad that because the offense was not an “exempt” offense under state statute, the applicant did not have the right to provide evidence of rehabilitation, and the had almost no discretion to grant the license.
The committee voted 5-0 to recommend the license application be denied.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1281680&GUID=E6920A80-F972-47BA-8824-F4E5DAC963FC
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