Burr Ridge Officials Argue Over Legal Bills

Burr Ridge IL

01 March, 2021

2:49 PM

Description

BURR RIDGE, IL — An argument over legal bills last week resulted in one trustee accusing the mayor of using a "nasty Godfather voice" and the mayor returning fire by referring to the trustee as an "idiot." The video of the shouting matches over the legal bills. During the discussion, Mayor Gary Grasso ordered the muting of the microphone for Trustee Zach Mottl, who was the only trustee attending the Village Board meeting in person. The dispute happened after the board was asked to approve the village's monthly bills. Mottl asked for details on the $25,000 in bills from the village's main law firm, Storino, Ramello & Durkin. "There are no copies of the bill here. We have no idea what we're approving," he said. "This sounds like a lot of money for one month." Trustee Joe Snyder shot back, "Your FOIA requests." He was referring to the village's contention that Mottl-related issues cost taxpayers $60,000 in legal bills and staff time over 18 months. Mayor Gary Grasso called Mottl's question fair, but he said the trustee was grandstanding because he could have asked for the documentation before the meeting. Mottl raised his voice in response. "Stop hammering me with your ad hominem attacks and just answer the question. It's a factual question. What's the bill for?" he said. "You could have asked us in advance," the mayor said. Mottl responded, shouting, "I'm asking you now. Tell me what the bill is for. The attorney is on the phone... You can use your nasty Godfather voice. I don't care. I want an answer, Gary." Others raised their voices calling for a "point of order," trying to stop Mottl from speaking. In the cross-talk, the mayor could he heard saying, "Idiot is talking." Trustee Tony Schiappa told Mottl, "You're calling the mayor a derogatory name. That's what the point of order is for. No one is calling you a name." Mottl said he wanted an answer at that moment in public. Grasso said no one wanted to avoid the question. He asked the village's interim administrator, Evan Walter, if he had an idea what the legal bills were for. Walter did not have a response. The mayor ordered a village employee to turn off Mottl's microphone, but the trustee could still be heard shouting in the background, as the mic for Walter, who was in the room, picked up Mottl's voice. Grasso later ordered the employee to mute the whole board meeting room. "Hopefully, we'll be done with him in a couple of meetings," said Grasso, referring to the April 6 election, when Mottl is running for a second term. The mayor asked the board approve the village's bills, except those for legal. The board voted 4-1 for the bills, with Mottl in dissent. Trustee Anita Mital was not at the meeting. Grasso noted Mottl's vote, even though the legal bills were removed. "That shows you he is trying to create problems," the mayor said. The board has censured Mottl six times since late 2019.