Burr Ridge Official Reprimanded For Fifth Time

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge Trustee Zach Mottl was reprimanded for the fifth time this week for things such as failing to stand during a ceremony for police officers.

In response, Mottl said the other trustees were continuing to retaliate against him for his exercise of the First Amendment.

With only Mottl in dissent, the trustees adopted a resolution of censure against Mottl, saying he violated the trustees' code of conduct. All the reasons cited in the resolution happened during the Village Board's Oct. 26 meeting. According to the resolution, Mottl:

• Made allegations without substantiation against Police Chief John Madden, accusing the chief of being dishonest and committing criminal conduct in his official duties.
• Leveled personal attacks against trustees Joe Snyder and Tony Schiappa, accusing the trustees of financial payoffs for contracts under the board's consideration.
• Failed to stand with the other trustees and members of the audience to honor the promotions of three corporals to the rank of police sergeant, which was demeaning to the officers but also to their families present at the meeting.
• Refused to leave his seat when the board voted to expel him from the meeting and threatened to sue the police chief if he tried to enforce the board's decision. (When the chief approached Mottl, the trustee told the chief not to touch him. The board took a recess and let Mottl stay, but barred him from voting.)

With the new censure, the board requested Mottl's resignation for a second time.

During a board discussion, Mottl said he considered the latest censure a "badge of honor," which he said shows the board is trying to silence free speech.

"I'm a legislator engaged in the legislative process," he said. "You are entitled to disagree with me. You are not entitled to silence me."

Trustee Al Paveza disagreed the board was attempting to silence Mottl. He said Mottl was disruptive.

Trustee Guy Franzese said Mottl continued to make false accusations.

"There are ways of getting your point across without humiliating people," he said.

Trustee Tony Schiappa said the trustees have diverse views and backgrounds

"There are six of us, plus the mayor. Not all of us think the same. It's better for our residents that we think differently," Schiappa said. "I enjoy thoughtful debate without the name-calling and baseless complaints."

Mottl replied that frank discussion was necessary at times.

"If you have an alcoholic in the family, you have to have an intervention," he said.

He also said he did not know failure to stand for officers was an act subject to censure.

Mottl's history of censures began last November, when the board denounced his statement calling the village administrator and finance director incompetent. In other censures, the board accused Mottl of repeatedly calling Mayor Gary Grasso and a trustee a slur against Italian Americans and unfairly disparaging the police chief and the police department.

Grasso defeated Mottl in the April 2019 mayoral election.