Resident alleges coach made inappropriate comments to youth; city manager says complaint investigated and closed

A Lake Forest resident told the City Council May 19 that he filed police and other reports after he alleged a youth recreation coach made inappropriate comments to children and later lied to city staff. The resident asked the council to take action; the city manager said the complaint was investigated and the city considers the matter closed.

“Last year … he communicated completely inappropriate messaging to children at a water break,” Robert Metz said during the public‑comment period. Metz identified himself as a Lake Forest resident and a youth coach and said he had sent emails to council members and filed a police report. Metz said he also contacted USA Football and the Illinois attorney general and that school officials told him the conduct would merit termination if it had been by a teacher not covered by a bargaining agreement.

A legal advisor asked whether the council could restrict content during public comment; the city’s legal advice was to allow the speaker to use his three allotted minutes unless he incited violence or disrupted the meeting. After Metz finished, the city manager addressed the council’s public‑comment policy and personnel matters, saying the city “takes any and all complaints we receive regarding personnel very seriously,” that the matter was “thoroughly investigated” and that the city “considers the matter closed at this time.”

Metz said he had forced the recreation department to reinterview children, that the children corroborated his account, and that the coach later admitted the statements Metz attributed to him. Metz also said the coach had challenged him to a fight on the sidelines. Metz provided the council copies of documents he referenced.

No formal council action was taken during the meeting on Metz’s comments. The city manager’s statement that the matter was investigated and closed was made as part of council responses to public comment; the council did not vote or direct additional public action at the meeting.

The council’s materials and public record do not identify any changes to personnel status or disciplinary action taken at the meeting. Metz’s remarks and the city manager’s response occurred during the public‑comment portion of the agenda; the transcript shows Metz spoke at length and that the city manager summarized the city’s handling afterward.