Burr Ridge Official Apologizes For Remark

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge Trustee Zach Mottl received his sixth official reprimand from his colleagues Monday.

In response, he called the censure a distraction, but apologized for one of his comments that, in part, sparked the latest condemnation.

Watch the video of the Burr Ridge trustee's comment.

After a resident criticized Mottl remotely during a meeting last month, another resident expressed concern that a third of the Zoom video screen seen by the public was of Mottl's critic in his home, which she said seemed like an invasion of privacy.

A few people spoke at once, but Mottl could be heard saying that he hoped the resident had his pants on and wasn't masturbating. The board's meeting minutes reflect his statement.

At a meeting in late November, the mayor and the other five trustees apologized to the resident. Mottl wasn't there.

Mottl has previously told Burr Ridge Patch that his comments were in reference to the scandal involving Jeffrey Toobin, a CNN commentator and New Yorker writer. In November, Toobin was fired from the New Yorker after he was seen masturbating during a Zoom session with his colleagues.

At Monday's board meeting, Mottl said his comments should have "stayed in my head"

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize that I uttered them into the mic," he said. "I really didn't mean it related to any resident, and for any offense I created, I apologize for that."

He said Mayor Gary Grasso also has made offensive comments to residents, but said he wasn't calling for a reprimand. Mottl didn't provide examples of the mayor's comments.

The censure resolution also took Mottl to task for releasing what was said during the board's closed meetings. He has revealed the contents of such sessions to Patch and during open board meetings. No penalty exists for a board member to disclose closed session proceedings.

As with some earlier reprimands, the latest one calls for Mottl's resignation. Mottl took exception to that request.

"I'm not going to resign," Mottl told the board. "You can keep censuring me at every meeting if you'd like, and nothing is going to change."

Mottl, whose term is expiring in the spring, told Patch on Monday that he was planning to run for a second term in the April 6 election. He said he was collecting signatures for his petition. He has until Monday to submit his paperwork.

Grasso, who filed his petition Monday, is planning to run again as well.