Trustee Janet Ryan Grasso Defends Chase Bank Vote

Janet Ryan Grasso addressed at Monday night’s Burr Ridge Board of Trustees meeting community members who wanted her to recuse herself from voting on the Chase Bank approval at the May 28 meeting.

Grasso, who several speakers at the last two meetings have said should not have voted on the village’s agreement with HBG Corporation because of campaign donations made by HBG's president to her husband’s past campaigns, said she requested and received a “lengthy legal opinion” from village attorney Scott Euler after her vote.

“[Euler’s opinion] said that there’s nothing statutory or in common law that would tell me that I should recuse myself,” Grasso said after former trustee and resident Elaine Milota asked for an explanation for the vote.

HBG President Aristotle Halikias made a $1,000 personal contribution to Citizens for Gary Grasso in 2012, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections, and Inter-Continental Real Estate Corp., which the Halikias family owns according to Crain's Chicago Business, made a $5,000 contribution to Gary Grasso in 2010.

Grasso said that she asked for Euler’s opinion knowing that she had until Monday to change her vote if his opinion was that there was a conflict of interest.

Grasso asked if Milota would like a full explanation from Euler himself, who was present at the meeting, but Milota said no.

“What we’re trying to impress upon this board is it’s not always about the law,” Milota said. “It’s about what’s ethical and moral.”

While she has taken heat at the last two board meetings, Grasso said Monday, “I also got phone calls form people who agreed with me in not recusing myself.”

Read more about the agreement reached with HBG here.

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