Council confirms Matt McClure and Ray Sotto, tables one appointment

The West Chicago City Council voted Jan. 20 to confirm two of the mayor’s appointees and handled a series of routine approvals.

Matt McClure, the mayor’s pick for the Environmental Commission, introduced himself to the council and said he has lived in West Chicago most of his life and runs a local tree service. “I’m honored to be appointed to this position for the environmental commission,” McClure told the council, noting his volunteer history and his credential as a certified arborist. After brief questions from aldermen, the council voted to concur with the appointment.

The council then considered Ray Sotto for the Building Board of Appeals. Sotto described more than three decades of building and development work in West Chicago, saying, “I’ve been building and developing commercial residential properties for over 35 years.” Council members pressed him about past project delays, punch-list work and a 2010 lawsuit he filed against the city. In response, Sotto said the lawsuit is public record, that he felt he had been treated unfairly in some instances, and that he ultimately lost because of the statute of limitations. The mayor reminded the council that members of boards and commissions must recuse themselves from matters where they have a personal interest.

After discussion, the council voted to concur with Sotto’s appointment to the Building Board of Appeals for a term ending April 2028.

The council also approved procedural items including the Jan. 5 minutes and a corporate disbursement report. Council members took a voice vote to table the appointment of David Nava (item 7f) until he can attend a meeting in person.

The meeting ended after a short preview of executive-session topics and committee reports; the council did not enter closed session.