Burr Ridge Official's Remarks Create Controversy

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge Trustee Zach Mottl is drawing criticism from his opponents for comments he made about a resident during a meeting two weeks ago.

At the Village Board's meeting on Nov. 9, the resident took Mottl to task for failing to disclose a video the trustee took of an encounter at Village Hall in which he was trying to listen to closed session recordings.

The resident, who was connected remotely, said at least two public records requests have been filed for the video, but the trustee has not released it. Mottl responded he had never received any request for a video.

A few minutes after the resident finished speaking, another resident expressed concern that a third of the Zoom video screen seen by the public was of the previous resident in his home, "which seems like some kind of invasion of privacy for him."

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 this statement, and Mottl doesn't dispute it.

Mottl's opponents posted on Facebook the portion of the meeting where the trustee made his remarks. They called such comments unacceptable.

Mayor Gary Grasso, who wasn't at the meeting in question, was aware of Mottl's comments and denounced the trustee for making them.

"I find it's despicable behavior by Mottl," the mayor said in a text message. "He's been censured five times and calls them badges of honor. He has no honor. If he had, he would have apologized to (the resident) and resigned his office as all other trustees have demanded Mottl do."

Mottl said his remarks were in reference to the scandal involving Jeffrey Toobin, a CNN commentator and New Yorker writer. Recently, Toobin was fired from the New Yorker after he was seen masturbating last month during a Zoom session with his colleagues.

Mottl said he made a "dry humor joke" under his breath.

"I don't believe I said (the resident's) name," Mottl said in an email to Patch. "I believe I said, 'I hope he has his pants on and isn't masturbating.' Because that's what's going on with the (New Yorker) guy."

Mottl said that when the other resident pointed out the issue with the video, he thought about the incompetence of the firm that handles the technology. The trustees, he said, cannot see who is speaking during the meetings and residents can't see what they're supposed to.

"What I want to know is why can’t we put on a proper meeting?" Mottl said. "There's been technical glitches and problems for months. They never get it right. And that’s because we have failed leadership who allows this kind of garbage."

This is the second example in recent weeks in which a Burr Ridge official's comments created controversy. Last month, Mottl released text messages from Evan Walter, the new interim village administrator, who twice called his predecessor, Doug Pollock, a "p----," a reference to female genitalia. Sent months ago, Walter's comments nearly derailed his candidacy to lead the village.