Former Longtime Burr Ridge Official Dies

BURR RIDGE, IL – Jerry Sapp, who served as Burr Ridge's finance director for nearly a quarter century, died unexpectedly Aug. 30, according to his obituary. He was 63.

Under his leadership, the village won budget awards throughout his tenure.

But in fall 2020, Mayor Gary Grasso and his Village Board allies launched an effort to oust both Sapp and Village Manager Doug Pollock. Pollock quickly entered a severance agreement, leaving with $38,000. That paved the way for the promotion of Assistant Village Manager Evan Walter.

Sapp declined to leave, saying he wanted to keep his job. It was an issue that Grasso preferred to stay behind closed doors, but then-Trustee Zach Mottl, a Grasso critic, publicly defended Sapp. He said it was wrong for the mayor to oust Sapp.

Grasso never gave a public reason for his effort. He did not permit Sapp to return to the office after Sapp suffered a medical emergency there in September 2020.

Grasso ultimately failed in his efforts to keep Sapp away from Village Hall for good.

Under an agreement in July 2021, Sapp got to return to the office and stay another six weeks before an agreed-upon retirement date in mid-August. Sapp also received $90,000 in a settlement with the village.

In return, Sapp dropped his complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging age discrimination.

Under the settlement, the mayor was required to read a resolution in honor of Sapp's service. Typically, Grasso reads such resolutions in their entirety. In Sapp's case, the mayor cited an approaching storm and only read the last line.

In total, including the settlement money, the village spent nearly $200,000 in its effort to oust Sapp.

After leaving Village Hall, Sapp, a Bartlett resident, worked as director of finance and accounting for the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston.