Burr Ridge Finance Official On Leave

BURR RIDGE, IL — The Burr Ridge village government has been paying its finance director for nearly two months while he has been on administrative leave. By his account, he was locked out of village facilities and computer systems.

On Monday morning, Finance Director Jerry Sapp emailed Mayor Gary Grasso and the Village Board about the circumstances of his leave. He said Grasso told him over the summer that the board no longer wanted him in his position after 24 years.

Sapp said he wanted the board to know his situation before it held a closed session Wednesday about personnel issues. Two trustees have told Burr Ridge Patch that the closed meeting is happening, although the agenda was not on the village's website as of mid-afternoon Monday.

Also in the email to the board, Sapp said Assistant Village Administrator Evan Walter was speaking with other officials about personnel changes he would make once he becomes administrator.

In mid-October, the Village Board approved a separation agreement with Administrator Doug Pollock in which he would get $38,000 in severance pay. His last scheduled day is Friday.

Grasso said in an email to Burr Ridge Patch recently that the board was looking at a "younger qualified" candidate to become administrator, later identified as Walter, who is much younger than Pollock.

The board was set to vote on Walter's appointment last Wednesday, but delayed a decision until its Nov. 9 meeting, three days after Pollock is set to leave.

In his email, Sapp contended Grasso is trying to get rid of the village's older employees.

On June 24, Pollock told Sapp that Pollock needed "to get the hell out of here" and that his health was starting to suffer, Sapp said in his email. When Sapp asked why, Pollock said the board wanted to replace him with Walter, the email said.

A month later, Grasso met with Sapp and told him the board wanted to replace Sapp with Amy Nelson, assistant finance director, according to the email. The mayor told Sapp that the village did not need the redundancy of positions.

Sapp said he was so unsettled by the conversation that he texted the mayor about how he was feeling and that Grasso responded, "Let's talk more." Sapp said he then waited five weeks for a response, but none came.

"I became increasingly anxious every day with no follow up, wondering what my status will be and if I will lose my job after 24 years," Sapp said in the email. "My anxiety had become so great I developed hand tremors dealing with the situation."

On Sept. 3, Sapp said he met with Nelson on routine finance department items and that Nelson appeared "extremely upset" and left Sapp's office when the meeting started, saying she was going to Pollock. Pollock was not in, so they met with Pollock's executive assistant for conflict resolution.

Nelson left that meeting and the building upset, and they have not spoken since Sept. 3, Sapp said.

A day later, Pollock told Sapp that Nelson was upset because of an "inappropriate meeting" she had Sept. 2 with Walter, who discussed his reorganization plan while Pollock was still at the helm, the email said.

"I have known Amy Nelson since 2005 when she worked for me the first time from 2005-2008. We have been very cordial colleagues over the years," Sapp said. "She knows my calm temperament and friendly demeanor that I have with my department, other employees, and the residents. She has much the same demeanor, one of the reasons we work so well together."

Sapp said the accumulation of stress and anxiety of the situation led to his panic attack at work Sept. 4. He was rushed to the emergency room, but left the hospital a few hours later.

On Sept. 8, Sapp said he was cleared by his doctor to return to work. He was then immediately placed on adminstrative leave and directed to take a fitness-for-duty examination, he said.

"Two unsubstantiated claims were also made against me that had to be investigated," Sapp said. "First, that I berated Amy Nelson when I did not — it was a tense meeting precipitated by the events listed above. Secondly, there was a hostile workplace complaint filed by an employee the morning of September 4, 2020, while I was in the emergency room suffering a panic attack. It later became apparent while I was being investigated and the line of questioning that the unsubstantiated complaint most likely came from Evan Walters."

In the email, Sapp said he was 61 and that Nelson was in her 40s.

Pollock, Walter and Nelson did not return calls for comment.

Grasso would only say in a text, "Jerry remains on leave. I am not at liberty to comment."

In an interview, Trustee Zach Mottl, who has criticized Sapp in the past, said his concern with the finance director was misplaced.

"I thought certain people were the problem, when they were the victims," Mottl said. "If what Jerry is saying is true, I feel bad for him and his family."

He said he is learning more and more about the village government and that "Gary's game is to get older people out and younger people in."

Called Monday afternoon, Sapp said he wanted to present information to the board. He declined to comment further.

Here is the letter sent by Burr Ridge Finance Director Jerry Sapp to the mayor and Village Board:

To: The Mayor and Village of Burr Ridge Board of Trustees

From: Jerry Sapp, Finance Director

Subject: Status of Administrative Leave

I am providing the Mayor and Board of Trustees this report on my leave status separately and through my personal email account. I have been locked out of my Burr Ridge email and I am not able to send through my work account. The information is summarized from my daily work diary.

In light of the recent press in which my leave status has been made public, and the attempts by the press to contact me, I wanted to provide the full board this report in anticipation of your November 4, 2020 closed meeting in the event my status will be discussed.

I have an accomplished career the past 30 years in the field of government finance. I have served 4 years as the Accounting Manager of Hanover Park, IL, 2 years at Kane County, IL as the Assistant Finance Director, and 24 years as the Finance Director for the Village of Burr Ridge. I also serve as a Board member and Treasurer of Soaring Eagle Academy, a therapeutic day school for children with autism. With an autistic son, volunteering at the Academy is a passion on mine. I as I am well respected by my professional peers, the people I work with, and the school I serve. I really love where I work, the people I work with, and the many relationships I have developed with the residents of the community I serve.

The past few months has been challenging to my career and service. On the morning of September 4, 2020, I experience a panic attack caused by anxiety created by workplace issues and had to be rushed to the emergency room. The anxiety began building a few months early and I want to provide the full Board my side of what happened.

On June 24 th I was meeting Doug he shared with me “he needs to get the hell out of here, his health is starting to suffer. When I asked why, Doug related to me that Mayor Grasso told him that “the Board wanted Doug out and Evan in”. I was very disturbed about the comment. I mentioned to Doug that I was working with a police officer on pension matters. The officer commented they were approach by Evan Walters and was told that he was going to make changes at the Village Hall when Doug is out, and he is the Administrator. Evan asked the officer what he could to do to improve Police Officer compensation and the officer ended the conversation. Through these conversations I began worrying about the Mayor and Board was “trying to get rid of older employees”.

On July 24 th, Mayor Gary Grasso called me into his office and informed me that “ the Board wants me out and Amy in”. There was no apparent reason why they wanted to replace a 61-year-old with a 24-year impeccable record at the Village with a 45-year-old with about one year of succession training as a Government Finance Director

I asked who on the board wanted me out. Mayor Grasso response was 5 of the board members, stating that Trustee Mottl, “doesn’t count”. I asked why the Board wanted me out and Mayor Grasso response was you do not have the support of the Board you used to have. I was also told that we are a smaller Village with limited resources, and we do not need the redundancy. I stated that Finance is very cost effective with the lowest payroll and budget and provides the residents and the staff with a large amount of services. I then really believed then the Mayor and Board was “trying to get rid of older employees”. After the meeting I became very anxious and stressed about the idea of being forced out of my position after 24 years. Later that evening I was very unsettled about the conversation and felt like I was being pushed out because of my age. I texted Mayor Grasso to let him know this and his reply was “let’s talk more”. I waited over 5 weeks for a response from Mayor Grasso, receiving none. I became increasingly anxious every day with no follow up, wondering what my status will be and if I will lose my job after 24 years. My anxiety had become so great I developed hand tremors dealing with the situation.

On September 3, 2020 I met with Amy Nelson to go over a few items that Evan would not respond back to me, hoping to get some updates. These were typical work-related items such as Business Licensing processing, some cash receipting issues with Building Permits, any various updates. Amy appeared extremely upset immediately left my office when the meeting started, stating that she was going to Doug Pollock. Doug’s was not in, so we met with Julie for some conflict resolution. Amy left the meeting and the building still upset, and I have not spoken to her since to September 3 rd.

On September 4 th I met with Doug Pollock to discuss the conflict between Amy and I the day before. Doug informed by that Amy would be working from home that day. Doug confirmed to me that Amy was very upset stating that she was caught up in an inappropriate meeting on September 2, 2020 with Evan Walters who discussed his reorganization plan while Doug Pollock is still the Village Administrator and I was still the Finance Director. He had not even been offered the position yet.

I have known Amy Nelson since 2005 when she worked for me the first time from 2005-2008. We have been very cordial colleagues over the years. She knows my calm temperament and friendly demeanor that I have with my department, other employees, and the residents. She has much the same demeanor, one of the reasons we work so well together.

The final straw was the accumulation of the stress of possible losing my job after 24 years, the inappropriate meeting conducted by Evan Walters, and the anxiety, anger, and emotional distress placed on Amy Nelson. This hostile workplace environment created an alienation between Amy and me by having us placed in a very difficult and awkward position. The accumulation of events created a panic attack that I could not control and was rushed to the emergency room.

After a few hours, I was checked out of at the Emergency Room and cleared to leave the hospital. Later that afternoon on September 4 th Doug emailed me and asked me to take some vacation time and not return to work until I received full clearance from a medical doctor. On September 8 th I did what was asked, I was check out by the doctor and received a full return to work without restrictions.

What happened next has left my wife Sue and myself stunned and devastated. I was immediately put on administrative leave later that afternoon. I was directed to take a fitness for duty examination for my panic attack. I was locked out of the Village facilities and computer systems. I was cut off from communicating with my Finance department and other Village employees. No benefit of the doubt was given. I felt as if I was a criminal that did something wrong when I did not.

Two unsubstantiated claims were also made against me that had to be investigated. First, that I berated Amy Nelson when I did not – it was a tense meeting precipitated by the events listed above. Secondly, there was a hostile workplace complaint filed by an employee the morning of September 4, 2020 while I was in the emergency room suffering a panic attack. It later became apparent while I was being investigated and the line of questioning that the unsubstantiated complaint most likely came from Evan Walters.

The past two months while on administrative leave continued to be very challenging to my wife and me. I was not responded to by the Village for 10 days (September 8 – 18) while awaiting instructions for my fitness for duty exam. I was submitted to 10 hours of psychological and neurological forensic examinations, and 5 hours of investigations. On September 23 rd I was told by the doctors that I could expect the report in 2 weeks, and it was withheld for 5 weeks. My final, very short examination review by the doctors was very positive stating they would be very surprised if there was anything in the report that would prevent me from returning to work. I was also only asked a few short questions about being able to be performing my duties if I returned to work.

Last week we had anticipated a positive report and that I would finally be cleared to return to work. It was a complete shock for us when we received a verbal notification on October 28 th from the Village attorney that I am not fit for duty. We have requested a written report for the doctors and a third independent examination to verify my original doctors release to work without restriction on September 8 th and determine why positive comments from the doctors ended with a verbal not fit for duty.

I appreciate the board taking the time to read my report. Those of you who have worked with me over the years know type of person and employee I am. I developed high anxiety for a few months that created a panic attack which was resolved quickly. I was hopeful for some expediency to my ordeal to get allow me to get back to work but received none. After two months, I am still working though the process. On a personal note, this has been extremely heartbreaking for both my wife Sue and me. I always have loved working for Burr Ridge these many years and have met many wonder people in the community. Please take into consideration my report and allow me to return to my duties as the Village’s Finance Director and finish up my life’s work.

If you have any questions you can call my number at (redacted).

Warm Regards,

Jerry