Town of Oconomowoc, WI Intoxicating Liquor and Fermented Malt Beverages

No licensee shall permit the consumption of fermented malt beverages or intoxicating liquor on any part of the licensed premises not enclosed within the building, except under permit granted by the Town Board. Application for a permit may be made at the time of application for the fermented malt beverage or intoxicating liquor license or may be made at any time during the license year. Such permit may be revoked by the Board at its pleasure at any time.

No person shall consume or have in his possession fermented malt beverages or intoxicating liquor on any unenclosed part of the licensed premises which is not described in such permit.

Separate license required for each place of sale. Except for licensed public warehouses, a license shall be required for each location or premises where alcohol beverages are stored, sold or offered for sale. See § 125.04(9), Wis. Stats.

Sign restricting consumption of alcohol beverages beyond licensed premises. Each license holder shall be required to have a sign posted at the exit door or doors of the premises stating that open alcohol beverages shall not be allowed outside of the premises. This shall not apply to licenses issued to hotel or resort facilities where there is not a door leading directly to the outside from the portion of the building used for the sale of intoxicating liquor or fermented malt beverages.

§ 166-3 Classes of licenses; fees.

The following classes and denominations of licenses may be issued by the Town Clerk under the authority of the Town Board upon compliance with law and payment of the fee herein specified, which, when so issued, shall permit the holder to sell, deal or traffic in alcohol beverages as provided in the referenced state statute.

Class "A" fermented malt beverage retailer's license. See § 125.25, Wis. Stats.

Class "B" fermented malt beverage retailer's license. See § 125.26, Wis. Stats.

Six months. A Class "B" license may be issued at any time for six months in any calendar year, for 3/4 of the applicable license fee. Such license shall not be renewable during the calendar year in which issued. See § 125.26(5), Wis. Stats.

Special event (picnic). See § 125.26(6), Wis. Stats.

Wholesaler's fermented malt beverage license: may not exceed $25 per year or fraction thereof. See § 125.28, Wis. Stats.

Retail "Class A" liquor license. See § 125.51(2), Wis. Stats.

Retail "Class B" liquor license. A retail "Class B" liquor license shall permit its holder to sell liquor in original packages or containers in multiples not to exceed four liters at any one time to be consumed off the licensed premises. See § 125.51(3), Wis. Stats.

A license may be issued after July 1 in any license year, which shall expire on the following June 30. The fee for the license shall be pro rated according to the number of months or fractions of months remaining until the following June 30.

The fee for such license shall be 50% of the annual license fee. The license may not be renewed during the calendar year in which issued. See § 125.51(9), Wis. Stats.

Operator's license. See § 125.17, Wis. Stats.

Operator's licenses may be granted to individuals by the Town Board for the purpose of complying with § 125.32(2), Wis. Stats., and § 125.68(2), Wis. Stats. The Town Board does hereby designate the Town Clerk as the designated municipal official who may issue operator's licenses if the application for the operator's license does not contain information that warrants action by the Town Board.

[Amended 12-2-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-8]

Operator's licenses may be issued only on written application on forms provided by the Clerk.

(3)

Operator's licenses shall be valid for one year or two years and shall expire on June 30 of each year.

(4)

Consumption of alcohol beverages while serving alcohol beverages.

[Added 5-16-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-1]

It shall be unlawful for an alcohol beverage licensee and their employees to be intoxicated while performing any of the following services on the licensed premises: tending bar, waiting on customers, serving/selling alcohol beverages, providing security, or supervising employees who are engaged in any of these activities.

"Intoxicated" shall mean having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more. If a law enforcement officer has probable cause that a violation of this section has occurred, then the officer, prior to an arrest, may request the person to provide a sample of their breath for a breathalyzer test. Refusal to submit to a requested breathalyzer test may be considered by the Board of Supervisors of the Town of Oconomowoc as grounds for revocation, suspension, nonissuance, or nonrenewal of the server's operator's license.

The provisions of Wis. Stats., § 125.07(2), regarding the sale of alcohol beverages to intoxicated persons, is hereby adopted by reference and made an offense punishable as a violation of this Code.

Provisional operator's license. See § 125.17(5), Wis. Stats.

[Added 8-5-1991]

Requirements. The Town Clerk may grant a provisional operator's license to an individual who complies with § 125.04(5), Wis. Stats., and has also applied for a regular operator's license and who has not been previously denied a license under this chapter, subject to the following restrictions:

The applicant for a provisional operator's license must furnish an affidavit stating that he has not been an habitual law offender or been convicted of a felony, unless pardoned.

A written statement must be provided by a sponsor for the applicant who must have an alcohol license issued under Ch. 125, Wis. Stats., stating the length of time the sponsor has known the applicant, that the applicant has a place of employment and that the sponsor shall reimburse the Town for any expenses incurred by the Town in revoking the applicant's provisional operator's license.

Evidence that the applicant has either completed or enrolled in a training course required by § 125.17(6), Wis. Stats., must be submitted. In the event the applicant fails to successfully complete such course, the provisional operator's license shall be revoked.

Restrictions.

No provisional operator's license may be issued to a person who has been denied an operator's license by the Town Board.

The provisional operator is limited to working for the sponsor unless and until a regular operator's license is issued by the Town Board.

The applicant for a provisional operator's license shall be fingerprinted prior to the issuance of the license.

(d)

The provisional operator's license shall expire 60 days after its issuance or when a regular operator's license is issued, whichever is sooner.

(e)

The Town Clerk may revoke the provisional operator's license if it is discovered that the licensee of the provisional license made a false statement on the application.

§ 166-4 License application.

Form. Application for a license to sell or deal in intoxicating liquor or fermented malt beverages shall be made in writing on forms prescribed by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and filed with the Town Clerk at least 15 days prior to issuance. The premises shall be physically described, including every room and storage space to be covered by the license and including all rooms joined by connecting entrances or not separated by a solid wall.

Application to be notarized. The application shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant as provided by § 887.01, Wis. Stats.

Publication. Prior to issuance of a license under this chapter, the Town Clerk shall publish notice of the application in the official Town newspaper.

List of licensees. By July 15 of each year, the Clerk shall forward to the State Department of Revenue a list containing the name, address and trade name of each person holding a license issued under this chapter, except a picnic, manager's or operator's license.

Inspection of premises.

Upon the filing of each application, the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief, the Building Inspector and the Health Department shall inspect or cause to be inspected each application and the premises, together with any other investigation necessary to determine whether the applicant and the premises sought to be licensed comply with the regulations, ordinances and laws applicable thereto and whether the applicant is a proper recipient of a license. Such officials shall furnish the Town Board in writing a report on such investigation, accompanied by a recommendation as to whether a license should be granted or refused.

No license shall be renewed without reinspection of the premises and a report as originally required.

Fingerprinting required. Any applicant for a license under this chapter shall be fingerprinted by the Police Department.

§ 166-5 License restrictions.

Statutory requirements. Licenses shall be issued only to persons eligible therefor under § 125.04, Wis. Stats.

Location.

No retail "Class A" or "Class B" license shall be issued for premises the main entrance of which is less than 300 feet from the main entrance of any established public school, parochial school, hospital or church. Such distance shall be measured by the shortest route along the highway from the closest point of the main entrance of such school, church or hospital to the main entrance to the premises covered by the license.

This subsection shall not apply to premises licensed as such on June 30, 1947, nor shall it apply to any premises licensed as such prior to the occupation of real property within 300 feet thereof by any school, hospital or church building.

Violators of liquor or beer laws or ordinances. No retail Class A or Class B license shall be issued to any person who has been convicted of a violation of any federal or state liquor or fermented malt beverage law or the provisions of this chapter or whose license has been revoked under § 125.12, Wis. Stats., during one year prior to such application. A conviction of a member of a partnership or the partnership itself shall make the partnership or any member thereof ineligible for such license for one year.

Health and sanitation requirements. No retail Class B license shall be issued for any premises which does not conform to the sanitary, safety and health requirements of the State Department of Safety and Professional Services pertaining to buildings and plumbing, to the rules and regulations of the State Department of Health Services applicable to restaurants and to all such ordinances and regulations adopted by the Town Board.

License quota. The number of persons and places that may be granted a retail "Class B" liquor license under this chapter is limited as provided in § 125.51(4), Wis. Stats.

Corporations. No corporation organized under the laws of this state or of any other state or foreign country may be issued any alcohol beverage license or permit unless such corporation meets the requirements of § 125.04(6), Wis. Stats.

Age requirement. No license hereunder, except an operator's license, shall be granted to any person who has not attained the legal drinking age. Operator's licenses may be issued only to applicants who have attained the age of 18.

Effect of revocation of license. Twelve months shall elapse before another license shall be granted to the person whose license was revoked.

Delinquent taxes, assessments and claims. No license shall be granted for any premises for which taxes, assessments or other claims of the Town are delinquent and unpaid, or to any person delinquent in payment of such claims, including unpaid forfeiture judgments, to the Town.

Issuance for sales in dwellings prohibited. No license shall be issued to any person for the purpose of possessing, selling or offering for sale any alcohol beverages in any dwelling house, flat or residential apartment.

§ 166-6 Form and expiration of licenses.

All licenses shall be numbered in the order in which they are issued and shall state clearly the specific premises for which granted, the date of issuance, the fee paid and the name of the licensee and, unless sooner revoked, shall expire on June 30 thereafter except as otherwise provided by law. The Clerk shall affix her affidavit as required by § 125.04(4), Wis. Stats.

§ 166-7 Transfer of licenses; fee.

As to person. No license shall be transferable as to licensee except as provided by § 125.04(12), Wis. Stats.

As to place. Licenses issued under this chapter may be transferred to another premises once during any license year as provided in § 125.04(12), Wis. Stats. Application for such transfer shall be made on blanks furnished by the State Department of Revenue. Proceedings for transfer shall be had in the same manner and form as the original application. The fee for such transfer shall be $10.

§ 166-8 Posting and care of licenses.

Every license or permit required under this chapter shall be framed and posted and at all times displayed as provided in § 125.04(10), Wis. Stats. No person shall post such license or permit any other person to post it upon premises other than those mentioned in the application, or knowingly deface or destroy such license.

§ 166-9 Regulation of licensed premises and licensees.

Gambling and disorderly conduct prohibited. Each licensed and permitted premises shall at all times be conducted in an orderly manner; and no disorderly, riotous or indecent conduct or gambling shall be allowed at any time on any such premises.

Employment of underage person. No licensee shall employ any underage person who does not have a valid operator's license to serve, sell, dispense or give away any alcohol beverage.

Sales by clubs. No club shall sell intoxicating liquors or fermented malt beverages except to members and guests invited by members.

Safety and sanitation requirements. Each licensed premises shall be maintained and conducted in a sanitary manner and shall be a safe and proper place for the purpose for which used.

Noise control. Each licensed premises shall be maintained and the business authorized therein shall be conducted in a manner that shall not cause unusual and extraordinary noise to emanate therefrom so as to disturb the residents of the neighborhood in which the premises are located. There shall be no loudspeakers outside the licensed premises. Windows and doors to the licensed premises shall be kept closed at all times, except when doors are being used for ingress or egress.

§ 166-10 Closing hours.

No premises for which an alcohol beverage license has been issued shall remain open for the sale of alcohol beverages:

If a wholesale license, between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., except on Saturday when the closing hour shall be 9:00 p.m.

If a retail Class "A" license, between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

[Amended 10-15-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-4]

If a retail Class B license, between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on weekdays and between 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. On January 1, premises operating under a Class B license are not required to close. No package, container or bottle sales shall be made after 12:00 midnight.

[Amended 1-23-1988]

Hotels and restaurants whose principal business is the furnishing of food or lodging to patrons, bowling alleys and golf courses may remain open for the conduct of their regular business, but no intoxicating liquors or fermented malt beverages shall be sold during prohibited hours.

§ 166-11 Revocation, suspension and nonrenewal of licenses.

[Amended 6-20-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-2]

Procedure.

Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of § 125.12, Wis. Stats., shall be applicable to proceedings for the revocation, suspension or nonrenewal of all intoxicating liquor or fermented malt beverage licenses or permits granted under this chapter. Revocation or suspension proceedings may be instituted as set forth below. The Town's policy and procedure for disciplinary actions relative to all retail intoxicating liquor and/or fermented malt beverage licenses, operator's licenses, agents, and other licenses and permits authorized in connection with the sale, distribution and possession of intoxicating liquor and/or fermented malt beverages shall be as set forth herein.

A license review committee is created, which shall be referred to herein as the "Review Committee." The Review Committee shall be composed of three members, including the Town Administrator, the Clerk/Treasurer, and a Town resident to be appointed by the Town Chairman. A fourth member, who shall also be a Town resident, shall also be appointed by the Town Chairman, who shall serve as an alternate member in case any of the three members is unavailable in any case. Both appointees shall serve for a term of three years.

License investigations. Any of the following may initiate requests for investigations before the Review Committee which may result in orders, suspensions, nonrenewals or delay in license issuance or revocation: Town Board Chairman, any Supervisor, the Police Chief, the Town Attorney, the State of Wisconsin acting through any state agency, or any Town resident by written complaint pursuant to § 125.12, Wis. Stats.

Requests for investigations. Requests for investigations shall be in writing, addressed to the Clerk/Treasurer, and shall contain a brief statement of the alleged misconduct. The Clerk/Treasurer shall promptly forward the request to the Review Committee for consideration. The Clerk/Treasurer shall issue a summons requiring the licensee to attend the hearing at which the matter will be considered. Documents which form a basis for a request for an investigation shall be available for the inspection of the licensee.

The Review Committee shall comply with the procedural requirements of § 125.12, Wis. Stats., and may consider any evidence or argument presented or made before it, whether or not obtained in or related to the written request for an investigation.

The Review Committee, on requesting and receiving any opinion or recommendation from the Town Attorney's office as it considers appropriate, may take any of the following actions:

No action;

Suspension, revocation or nonrenewal of the license, following statutory notice and opportunity to be heard, where the criteria for such action in Subsection D of this section are met;

The issuance and service on the licensee of an order requiring that certain action be taken as a condition of maintaining such license and providing notice that revocation may be the penalty for failure to strictly comply with such order; or

(d)

Transfer of the license to the owner of the licensed premises in accordance with applicable law, where the licensee leases or holds the licensed premises under a land contract or other seller-financed sale transaction.

(3)

The Clerk/Treasurer shall have the obligation of notifying the licensee of any further proceedings before the Review Committee.

Criteria for license revocation, nonrenewal or suspension. A point system is hereby established to guide the Review Committee considering the issuance, suspension, revocation, nonrenewal and transfer of alcoholic beverage licenses. The number of demerit points is assigned according to the type of violation. This system is intended to identify habitually troublesome liquor licensees who repeatedly violate state statutes and/or Town of Oconomowoc ordinances and to take consistent action against such licensees. The following demerit points are assigned for each type of violation:

	Violation	Number of Demerit Points Assigned
	Refusal to allow police to search premises or resisting or obstructing an officer, pursuant to § 139.08, Wis. Stats.	150
	Hindrance or obstruction of the Fire Chief or his designee	150
	Conducting unlawful business, pursuant to the zoning requirements contained in the zoning ordinance of the Town	150
	Violation of nude dancing restrictions	150
	Sale of controlled substances by a licensee or the licensee's employee, pursuant to § 961.41(3g), Wis. Stats.	150
	Possession of illegal drug paraphernalia by a licensee or the licensee's employee, pursuant to Ch. 961, Wis. Stats.	150
	Exceeding the posted occupancy capacity on the premises	80
	Sale to any person under the age of 21 years on the premises, pursuant to § 166-1 of this chapter	80
	Sale to an intoxicated person, pursuant to § 166-1 of this chapter adopting § 125.07(2), Wis. Stats., by reference	80
	Submission of a false statement on a license application	70
	Failure to maintain order, fights, or disorderly conduct occurring in a licensed establishment where the Police Department is not notified by the licensee or an employee of the licensee, pursuant to § 166-9 of this chapter	45
	Failure to maintain order, fights, or disorderly conduct occurring in a licensed establishment where the Police Department is notified by the licensee or an employee of the licensee, pursuant to § 166-9 of this code	10
	Excessive noise coming form a licensed business, pursuant to § 166-9E of this chapter	45
	Licensee or licensee's employee permitting the public consumption of alcoholic beverages off the licensed premises	45
	Operation of a licensed business after hours, pursuant to § 166-10C of this chapter	40
	Failure to maintain a licensed operator on the licensed premises	40
	Possession or operation of unlicensed amusement devices on the licensed premises, pursuant to Chapter 96, Amusement Devices and Arcades, of this Code	30
	After-hour carry-outs, pursuant to § 166-10 of this chapter	30
	Failure to properly display licenses, pursuant to § 166-8 of this chapter	25
	Violation of the Waukesha County Health Code, pursuant to § 166-9D of this chapter, where that violation does not endanger the safety and health of the public	25
	Critical violation of the Waukesha County Health Code, pursuant to § 166-9D of this chapter, where that violation endangers the safety and health of the public	80

Penalty enhancement for severe offenses. The Review Committee may assign additional demerit points, not to exceed a maximum of 150, as a penalty enhancement where the conduct:

Results in bodily harm to any individual;

Creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm;

(3)

Involves the use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon; or

(4)

Demonstrates an ongoing disregard for the requirements of state or municipal ordinances.

Calculating violations. In determining the accumulated demerit points, the date of the violation is used as the basis for assigning demerit points per incident. A conviction for a violation is not necessary to assign points.

Suspension and revocation of license.

The Police Department shall notify the Review Committee of any convictions which result in the assessment of demerit points against any licensee. Following this notification or the filing of a complaint pursuant to § 125.12, Wis. Stats., the committee may hold a hearing if required by § 125.12, Wis. Stats., or this chapter and may take the following action after first determining the number of demerit points to be assessed against the licensee:

For demerit points totaling 25 to 149 within a twelve-month period, a warning to the licensee of the consequences of additional violations.

For demerit points totaling 150 to 199 within a twelve-month period, suspension of the license for a period of not less than 10 days nor more than 90 days.

For demerit points totaling 200 or more within an eighteen-month period, revocation of the license. Whenever any license is revoked, at least six months from the time of such revocation shall elapse before another license shall be granted for the same premises, and 12 months shall elapse before any other license shall be granted to the person whose licensed was revoked.

The Review Committee shall take such action, absent compelling mitigation factors. If the Review Committee shall determine that such factors exist, it shall refer the matter to the Town Attorney for recommendation regarding a probationary period of continuation for the license holder. The Town Attorney, after consultation with the Police Department and such other person the Town Attorney deems appropriate, may recommend probationary provisions to the Review Committee, which shall be deemed sufficient to ensure future compliance with state statutes and this chapter. Pending such recommendation and further action by the Review Committee, the license shall be suspended unless the Review Committee shall determine such suspension would result in extreme and undue hardship.

Scope. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to conflict with, abridge or modify the rights or procedures established for revocation or suspension of licenses in § 125.12, Wis. Stats. Notwithstanding the requirements of this chapter, the Review Committee may require the appearance before it of any licensee at any time.

Transfer or sale of licensed business.

On the transfer or sale of a licensed business, all accumulated demerit points shall be canceled unless any of the following applies:

The new licensee is related to the former licensee by blood, adoption or marriage.

The new licensee held a business interest in the previous licensed business, real estate or equipment.

The former licensee retains an interest in the business, real estate or equipment used by the business.

(d)

The new licensee's acquisition of the business did not involve an arm's length transaction consisting of an open market sale in which the owner is willing, but not obligated to sell, and the buyer is willing, but not obligated to buy.