By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
After combing through an applicant’s recent background, Whitewater officials have decided to deny her a license to serve alcohol.
Early this summer, Whitewater resident Hannah Leclair submitted the routine paperwork to serve alcohol at the Brass Rail, 130 W. Main St. She subsequently underwent the standard background check all applicants endure when applying for a license to serve alcohol.
In a report issued to city officials, Police Chief Lisa Otterbacher noted three specific cases, all linked to Nov. 7, 2015, that were a basis for her recommendation to deny issuing Leclair a license.
Leclair was found guilty of operating a vehicle while under the influence and for having an illegal blood-alcohol concentration last fall.
A third item in the background check — possession of a controlled substance — is under review within the Walworth County District Attorney’s office and remains an open case.
“An operator at an alcohol establishment has an obligation to reasonably deal with various rules and regulations regarding alcohol,” Otterbacher wrote in the report, which was reviewed by the Common Council on Aug. 16 when a decision was made to deny issuing the license.
Otterbacher added, “These arrests show that Hannah Elizabeth Leclair has displayed inability to abide by these laws. We therefore do not believe that she has the appropriate ability to handle the responsibility that the license requires.”
While municipalities have their own protocol for license applications, state statutes also speak to the issue and note licenses can be denied in specific instances if an applicant has an arrest or conviction record.
Speaking to the statutes, Otterbacher said, “These offenses (Leclair) has been arrested for do substantially relate to the circumstances of the particular job or licensed activity as required under (state statutes).”
