MONROE - Issuance of two Class B licenses to sell liquor and fermented malt beverages will be decided with the help of an independent facilitator, Sept. 1.
Dan Henke made the motion, seconded by Keith Ingwell, which passed 9-1 with Alderman Thurston Hanson voting against the proposal.
City Attorney Rex Ewald said he was "the source of the suggestion" to use a facilitator to help make the decision on who should get the licenses.
Hanson, the License Committee chairman, had asked for the license issuance decision to be discussed by the whole Council Tuesday night.
However, the Common Council's agenda came out on Friday without a call for action, and with the added possible approval of a UW Extension agent as facilitator.
Hanson said he was not aware of the change until he received the agenda.
"I was irritated. This is nothing but a stall tactic," he said, after the Common Council meeting.
"We don't need a facilitator; we're 10 adults," Hanson added. "We live and work in the city and we were elected to represent the city - we can make the decision."
Hanson said the licenses should have been awarded Aug. 4, but one council member was absent, and the decision was delayed.
Ewald said he sent a memo to City Clerk Carol Stamm to change the agenda, to include "someone to guide the process because this is a high profile issue" that requires the Council to exercise discretion, which the meeting minutes must show.
A facilitator will help identify, narrow down and focus the exercise of discretion, Ewald explained.
"Lots of dollars are hanging on this decision for those waiting for a license," he said.
The applicants for the two licenses are Barrett's Brick Cafe, Fiesta Cancun Authentic Mexican Restaurant, Kookaburra's, Pancho and Lefties, and Vince's Restaurant and Pizzeria.
Kookaburra's and Pancho and Leftie's have not opened yet. The other applicants hold beer and wine licenses.
Both Russ Brown of Pancho's and Leftie's and Laura Winters of Kookaburra's attended Tuesday meeting.
"I'm all for it," Brown said about the facilitated meeting.
Issuing the licenses is "a bigger deal than I realized," he added.
Brown said having a license would be a great benefit for his business and the Square.
"It'll make their process easier," Winters said.
Both Brown and Winters said they are attempting to make their new dining establishments destination spots for Monroe.
The Council will meet with applicants and the facilitator at 6 p.m. Sept. 1, at City Hall.
Dan Henke made the motion, seconded by Keith Ingwell, which passed 9-1 with Alderman Thurston Hanson voting against the proposal.
City Attorney Rex Ewald said he was "the source of the suggestion" to use a facilitator to help make the decision on who should get the licenses.
Hanson, the License Committee chairman, had asked for the license issuance decision to be discussed by the whole Council Tuesday night.
However, the Common Council's agenda came out on Friday without a call for action, and with the added possible approval of a UW Extension agent as facilitator.
Hanson said he was not aware of the change until he received the agenda.
"I was irritated. This is nothing but a stall tactic," he said, after the Common Council meeting.
"We don't need a facilitator; we're 10 adults," Hanson added. "We live and work in the city and we were elected to represent the city - we can make the decision."
Hanson said the licenses should have been awarded Aug. 4, but one council member was absent, and the decision was delayed.
Ewald said he sent a memo to City Clerk Carol Stamm to change the agenda, to include "someone to guide the process because this is a high profile issue" that requires the Council to exercise discretion, which the meeting minutes must show.
A facilitator will help identify, narrow down and focus the exercise of discretion, Ewald explained.
"Lots of dollars are hanging on this decision for those waiting for a license," he said.
The applicants for the two licenses are Barrett's Brick Cafe, Fiesta Cancun Authentic Mexican Restaurant, Kookaburra's, Pancho and Lefties, and Vince's Restaurant and Pizzeria.
Kookaburra's and Pancho and Leftie's have not opened yet. The other applicants hold beer and wine licenses.
Both Russ Brown of Pancho's and Leftie's and Laura Winters of Kookaburra's attended Tuesday meeting.
"I'm all for it," Brown said about the facilitated meeting.
Issuing the licenses is "a bigger deal than I realized," he added.
Brown said having a license would be a great benefit for his business and the Square.
"It'll make their process easier," Winters said.
Both Brown and Winters said they are attempting to make their new dining establishments destination spots for Monroe.
The Council will meet with applicants and the facilitator at 6 p.m. Sept. 1, at City Hall.