Uncertainty At Burr Ridge Village Hall?

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge Village Hall appears to be seeing its share of controversies lately. The list is growing:

• The mayor is seeking a 500 percent raise, to $30,000.
• The village administrator is leaving next week under the terms of a separation agreement that will get him $38,000 in severance pay.
• The mayor revealed the Village Board was looking at a "younger qualified" candidate to replace the significantly older administrator. As part of the separation agreement, the administrator waived his rights under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
• Without explanation, the board delayed consideration of the mayor's recommendation for a new village administrator.
• A village trustee came close to being physically expelled by the police chief from a Village Board meeting.
• The village's top finance official is on leave, but officials aren't saying why.

On Friday, trustees Tony Schiappa and Guy Franzese revealed to Patch that the Village Board was holding a closed meeting Wednesday.

Franzese declined to comment on the session, but Schiappa confirmed it was about a personnel issue.

Before this week's board meeting, Mayor Gary Grasso recommended the appointment of Assistant Administrator Evan Walter to replace Doug Pollock.

But at the meeting, the board immediately voted to delay a vote on the recommendation and a resolution honoring Pollock for his 25 years of service, the last three as the administrator.

Schiappa declined to say why the board delayed the appointment. But in reference to Pollock and Walter, he said, "My understanding is that the situation may change. I don't know to what extent."

He said he believed the details would be discussed in closed session.

Asked about Finance Director Jerry Sapp, Schiappa said he was on leave, but didn't know the nature of it.

Grasso, Pollock and Walter did not return messages for comment.

Sapp deferred questions to Grasso.

Trustee Zach Mottl, who was nearly expelled from this week's board meeting, said he was aware of a special meeting next week, but did not know it would be closed. He said he planned to attend.