Burr Ridge Mayor's Critic Says He's Going to Feds

BURR RIDGE, IL — Former Burr Ridge Trustee Zach Mottl said Wednesday he planned to file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney's Office for what he says is wrongdoing involving Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso.

Grasso and Mottl have been political rivals for years. Before Mottl lost re-election in April, the Village Board officially reprimanded him six times.

Mottl said he and other members of the Committee to Keep Burr Ridge a Special Place plan to file a 126-page complaint to federal prosecutors on Thursday morning.

He said he hoped prosecutors would investigate Grasso's dealings with Capri Ristorante owner Filippo "Gigi" Rovito.

Patch left messages with Grasso and Rovito for comment.

In the effort against Grasso, Mottl has secured the services of a public relations professional. He has set a news conference for Thursday morning in front of the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago.

Asked about the committee, Mottl said in an interview, "It's not a small number of citizens. There are a lot of concerned citizens in Burr Ridge."

Mottl said lawyers have helped with the project, but they won't be at the Dirksen Federal Building on Thursday.

"This is a citizens effort. I'm speaking on behalf of citizens," Mottl said.

For the last couple of years, Mottl has alleged that Grasso gives special favors to Rovito. In the summer, the Village Board approved a permit for Rovito's Are We Live lounge, which is a few doors down from Capri Ristorante at County Line Square.

In a news release Wednesday, Mottl noted Rovito's criminal past. According to Burr Ridge police, Rovito is a convicted felon with multiple convictions, including aggravated sexual assault and delivery of heroin.

Rovito had donated to Grasso's political fund and named a plate in the mayor's honor at Capri Ristorante.

Grasso, a lawyer, defeated Mottl in a landslide in the 2019 mayor's race.