Burr Ridge Officials To Close Doors

BURR RIDGE, IL — The Burr Ridge Village Board on Wednesday plans to close its doors to discuss the possible appointment of a village administrator.

According to the board's agenda, it is set to vote on a new administrator who would start Saturday, a day after Administrator Doug Pollock retires. The closed session is for personnel issues.

The board also is set to vote on a resolution to require one of its members, Zach Mottl, cease communicating with village staff and require that all his communications go through Mayor Gary Grasso.

In response to a Patch inquiry, Mottl, who the Village Board has reprimanded four times in the last year, said it was the first he was hearing of the resolution.

"I do not think it’s legal and would challenge it in court," Mottl said in an email. "But this is a typical move by Godfather Grasso to stifle free speech, obstruct the legislative process, block the will of the People, and silence the only member of the board who is not one of his rubber stamps."

Check the latest developments in Burr Ridge politics:

Uncertainty At Burr Ridge Village Hall?

Burr Ridge Finance Official On Leave

The proposed resolution is not on the village's website.

In an email, Grasso said Mottl has complained that the mayor's policy about communications involving Mottl, in place for months, had not been put in the form of board resolution. So Grasso said he proposed a resolution containing the policy. He said the staff is not willing to deal with Mottl.

"This all stems from Mottl’s constant abuse and harassment of the staff and the trustees," Grasso said in an email. "He caused a scene in the lobby of the Village Hall only last week, resulting in the need for the police to escort him out of the lobby. He threw another scene at the October 26 board meeting leading to the first time in my memory a Village Board voted to expel a trustee from a meeting. He would not leave, and warned the (police) chief not to touch him – which the police did not do."

Grasso also responded to Mottl's calling him "Godfather Grasso."

"Mottl continues to use ethnic slurs as his chosen method of communication toward me," the mayor said. " It’s outrageous and offensive to me and all Americans of Italian heritage — and I’m sure that’s Mottl’s intent in using them."

Nearly two weeks ago, Grasso revealed that he was recommending Assistant Village Administrator Evan Walter to take the top job. But the board delayed a decision on Walter's appointment at a meeting last week.

Pollock, who has worked for the village for a quarter century, is leaving under the terms of a separation agreement, in which he is to receive $38,000 in severance pay. Pollock was promoted to administrator in 2017.

Wednesday's board meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Village Hall.