Burr Ridge Official Gets $90K Settlement

BURR RIDGE, IL — Since last year, Burr Ridge officials have tried to oust the village's longtime finance director. They failed.

This week, Director Jerry Sapp returned to the office after being forced to stay on leave in September.

On Monday, the Village Board approved two agreements with Sapp in which he is set to receive $90,000. The village will restore all of Sapp's sick time that was charged against his sick leave bank since Dec. 14, though that time cannot be paid out in cash.

In return, Sapp agreed to retire Aug. 19 and drop his complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

When Sapp retires, Mayor Gary Grasso will issue a letter of commendation to Sapp honoring his service to Burr Ridge, according to the agreement.

Under the agreement's terms, neither side can disparage the other or speak with the media about the settlement, other than say, "All matters have been amicably resolved and I/We have no further comment."

When contacted by email Thursday, interim Village Administrator Evan Walter followed the script. Sapp answered his phone, but declined to comment.

Under the agreements, Sapp is set to receive a $35,000 severance payment and $55,000 in compensatory damages and reimbursements of legal fees. The $55,000 will be paid through the village's insurer.

In April, Sapp emailed a "confidential" memo to the mayor and Village Board. He said he was told by the village he would be fired by May 15 if he did not leave voluntarily. He said he planned legal action.

In his memo, Sapp said he suffered an anxiety attack on Sept. 4. Four days later, he provided a doctor's note saying he was cleared to return to work.

But the village barred Sapp from doing so, saying he needed a "fitness for duty" examination.

In late October, he said, Sapp said he received a "verbal not fit for duty" designation, even though the village's medical evaluators' original comments were positive in nature.

In November, Sapp requested an independent, third-party report, but the request was denied, even though he said he was entitled to it, the memo said.

Sapp has served as finance director for a quarter century.

Last fall, the Village Board appeared to want Doug Pollock out as village administrator. After negotiations, Pollock agreed to resign with $38,000 in severance pay and a part-time job as village planner, a job he once held.