Shorewood’s Accountability Problem
When city officials make a mistake, it can be easy to forgive and forget. However, when questionable advice, errors in judgment, and incomplete or misleading information become a pattern, the problem is no longer an isolated mistake. It is an accountability problem. As the saying goes, “It starts at the top” with the Mayor and City Administrator!
Here are just a few examples of why Shorewood residents should be concerned.
Bad Advice and Questionable Judgment
City Attorney Shepherd advised the mayor and administration to conduct a closed-door meeting involving the mayor, city council members, city administrator, and representatives from the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department (SLMPD) to discuss security during City Council meetings. Council Member DiGruttolo questioned the legality of the meeting under Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law and requested that the recording be made public. The circumstances raise serious questions about the legal advice provided and the city’s commitment to transparency.
Planning Director Griffiths provided incorrect information to residents regarding the Watten Ponds development, contributing to public controversy at a City Council meeting and a subsequent lawsuit by the developer. Questions also arose about the adequacy of information provided to the council, including information prepared for the League of Minnesota Cities by staff, and whether the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) adequately covered the entire development area. Read more of the details at the link below:
Details: Trust Broken With Shorewood Staff (SCA)
Finance Director Schmuck continues to argue with council members that reducing this year’s tax levy would simply shift the burden to next year rather than recommending that the city examine reductions in general expenses or capital improvements.
Additionally, she told council members that a $275,000 reduction in the tax levy, from 8% to 5% would only lower next year’s taxes by $10 per household. That figure deserves scrutiny. Dividing $275,000 by 3013 households, produces a substantially different result—averaging $91 per household. The difference between $10 and $91 is significant for many residents. Council members deserve accurate financial information when making decisions that affect taxpayers.
Details: Oct. 26, 2026 Long range budget planning work session
Lack of Transparency: Where Are the Answers?
Transparency means more than making public meetings available to residents. It means answering legitimate questions, providing complete information, and following through when council members ask staff to provide additional information.
SCA reviewed all City Council meetings and work sessions minutes since January 2026 and tracked the total number of questions each council member asked the staff and those that went unanswered on the public record. The results reveal a pattern that deserves attention.
| Council Member | Total Questions Asked of Staff | # Questions Unanswered |
|---|---|---|
| DiGruttolo | 107 | 46 |
| Sanschagrin | 61 | 28 |
| Gorham | 51 | 20 |
| Labadie | 34 | 14 |
| Maddy | 7 | 4 |
Sources: City Council work session and council meeting packets Jan 1.-Oct. 13, 2026
This review does not account for answers to council that could have been made off the record. This can be a problem because not all council members and the public have access to the same information.
This isn’t about expecting instant answers to everything. It’s about council members being able to do their oversight job when staff doesn’t provide requested information. Residents who attend meetings in person or participate through Zoom deserve the same commitment to public answers and transparency.
Shorewood Deserves Better
Any one of these issues might be dismissed as a mistake, a misunderstanding, or a difference of opinion. Staff may not appreciate being challenged with questions. So, it is time to ask a bigger question: Who holds the staff accountable? The answer is: Residents and the Council.
