Dispute Over Powers In Burr Ridge

BURR RIDGE, IL — A Burr Ridge trustee is questioning whether the mayor is using his power appropriately, particularly with his attempt to spend village money on a campaign fundraiser. Mayor Gary Grasso admitted last week he made a mistake in telling trustees, through a village employee, that Burr Ridge would pick up the tab for $75 tickets for an event organized by DuPage County County Board Chairman Dan Cronin. He said he hadn't realized it was a campaign fundraiser.

The issue came to the public's attention last week after Trustee Zach Mottl sent a copy of Grasso's offer to Burr Ridge Patch. In an email Monday, Mottl, who lost to Grasso in last year's mayoral election, questioned the mayor's power to spend village money, whether it was for a political purpose or not, without the board's approval.

Mottl said he recalled that when former Mayor Mickey Straub attended events such as the Municipal League conference, he paid for them out of his own pocket, but later submitted the expenses to the village board for approval and reimbursement. That same practice has been followed by staff and other elected officials, he said.

In reply, Grasso said he believed each trustee was allocated up to $200 a year. "Hence, it was an invite a trustee could choose to attend within the allowance. I believe an event ticket or expense over $100, not budgeted, needs board approval," the mayor said.

Mottl responded that the aggregate price for all of the tickets would be well more than $100.

"Even if what he 'believes' is true, we have an allowance each of $200 per year, but no more than $100 total per event," Mottl said.

In an email to Patch, Grasso said, "Zach knows the rules and that there is no requirement for a totality of trustees to seek board permission to attend an event within their budgeted amount."

Mottl also took issue with the mayor's directing an executive assistant in village hall to send the email offering to have the village pay for the tickets. Mottl said the assistant answers to Village Administrator Doug Pollock. He said it was his understanding that all staff members report to Pollock, who answers to the mayor and board. Village employees, Mottl said, should not receive orders directly from the mayor or elected officials.

"I don’t think you giving orders directly to Doug’s subordinates aligns with our organizational chart or our policies," Mottl said in his email to Grasso.

The mayor responded that the assistant helps him and the administrator.

In an email to Patch, Grasso questioned a Patch reporter's coverage of Mottl.

"Zach cannot accept that the village overwhelmingly rejected him in the mayoral race. No matter what I say, he will use you to keep volleying. I'm surprised you keep biting," the mayor said.

Mottl had a different view: "(Grasso) implies that I'm out of order for talking to the press. Well so far that is the only place I can get anyone to listen to my very real and very valid claims."

The village board, he said, has become the mayor's "rubber stamp."