Suwamico board denies operator’s license for Sean C. Berman, 5–1
February 17, 2026 | Suamico, Brown County, Wisconsin
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The Suamico Village Board voted 5–1 on Feb. 16 to deny an operator’s license application from Sean C. Berman after a staff background‑check recommendation to refuse the application.
Deputy/Officer Pisani told the board the village completed a background check and, "based on that background check, law is recommending a denial of the license," and provided the board with the applicant's history and the applicable guidelines.
The applicant, identified in the record as Sean C. Berman, addressed the board and said he was seeking bartender placement at Chambers and has been trying to turn his life around. "I'm trying to make changes," Berman said, describing steady employment and union membership. Nikki Wagner, a manager at Chambers who provided her name and address for the public record, urged the board to approve the license and asked members to "please take into consideration people do make mistakes," saying Berman had received positive feedback during on‑the‑job training.
Board members asked for and received clarification on what an operator’s license permits. Officer Pisani explained that an unlicensed person may tend bar only under the direct supervision of a licensed operator or owner and that state statute requires actual, not merely visual, supervision of staff without licenses.
Trustees debated the statutory limits on convictions: Pisani described five‑year windows for certain offenses and said a felony can be a lifetime restriction under state statute. One trustee moved to approve the license but the motion received no second. Chair (unnamed in the transcript) then moved to deny the license; Trustee Romas seconded. The board voted 5 in favor of denial and 1 opposed.
The board noted its authority to grant a license despite staff recommendations but said the applicant’s record and recent offenses weighed in favor of denial. Chair (unnamed in the transcript) thanked Mr. Berman for appearing and encouraged him to continue addressing his circumstances and reapply in the future if appropriate.
The decision was procedural and final for this meeting; no appeal or immediate rehearing was scheduled.
Deputy/Officer Pisani told the board the village completed a background check and, "based on that background check, law is recommending a denial of the license," and provided the board with the applicant's history and the applicable guidelines.
The applicant, identified in the record as Sean C. Berman, addressed the board and said he was seeking bartender placement at Chambers and has been trying to turn his life around. "I'm trying to make changes," Berman said, describing steady employment and union membership. Nikki Wagner, a manager at Chambers who provided her name and address for the public record, urged the board to approve the license and asked members to "please take into consideration people do make mistakes," saying Berman had received positive feedback during on‑the‑job training.
Board members asked for and received clarification on what an operator’s license permits. Officer Pisani explained that an unlicensed person may tend bar only under the direct supervision of a licensed operator or owner and that state statute requires actual, not merely visual, supervision of staff without licenses.
Trustees debated the statutory limits on convictions: Pisani described five‑year windows for certain offenses and said a felony can be a lifetime restriction under state statute. One trustee moved to approve the license but the motion received no second. Chair (unnamed in the transcript) then moved to deny the license; Trustee Romas seconded. The board voted 5 in favor of denial and 1 opposed.
The board noted its authority to grant a license despite staff recommendations but said the applicant’s record and recent offenses weighed in favor of denial. Chair (unnamed in the transcript) thanked Mr. Berman for appearing and encouraged him to continue addressing his circumstances and reapply in the future if appropriate.
The decision was procedural and final for this meeting; no appeal or immediate rehearing was scheduled.
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