Former City of Winnipeg CAO Phil Sheegl was paid $250K in 2014
Sheegl didn't work for city in 2014; city won't say if $250K amount was severance
Former City of Winnipeg chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl was paid $250,000 in 2014, even though he wasn't working for the city that year.
The act requires Manitoba municipalities to publish an annual list of all employees receiving compensation of $50,000 or more in the previous fiscal year.
The City of Winnipeg had more than 6,100 employees who fit that category, with Sheegl topping the list.
Sheegl left his job with the city in October 2013, but his remuneration for 2014 exceeded the $235,334 that city records showed he was paid in 2013.
Sheegl resigned amid controversy just days before an audit of a fire-hall land swap deal was released at city hall in October 2013.
The external review was ordered after city council killed a deal that would have seen Shindico, a local developer, exchange land on Taylor Avenue for three other city-owned properties.
- City council votes for legal review of fire hall audit
- Police HQ cost overruns final straw forcing Sheegl out
At the time, Coun. Ross Eadie called for Sheegl's resignation after a number of controversial deals were made under his purview.
On Tuesday, Eadie said he believes the city will be paying for the former CAO's legacy for a long time.
"I really do believe, actually, for some of the decisions and things he's been involved with, we're going to be seeing a legacy here for at least another probably eight years," Eadie said.
St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard, who was elected in last fall's civic election, said he understands why Winnipeg taxpayers may be upset with the payment to Sheegl.
"Well, I think it's a tough pill to swallow for Winnipeggers — we saw many accountability issues in the last council and some issues that seem to be pointing at administration," Allard said.
The city refused to say if the $250,000 paid to Sheegl was severance.
Fired fire chief paid $110K
A 2014 compensation disclosure says former fire chief Reid Douglas — who was fired in September 2013 after the fire hall controversy — was paid $110,132 in 2014, about half what he was paid in the previous year.
The 2013 review of the fire hall land swap found Douglas was ill-equipped to deal with a complex development plan to sell four old fire stations and build three new stations.
Deepak Joshi, the man who replaced Sheegl and became acting CAO, was paid $245,899 in 2014, the compensation report shows.
That was more than the $202,102 he received in 2013. Joshi was suspended in January 2015 after Mayor Brian Bowman said he had "lost confidence" in Joshi's capacity to serve as acting CAO.
Joshi eventually resigned in February.
Sheegl and Douglas did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
The city report says the listed dollar figures include not only salaries but other forms of payment such as overtime, sick leave, vacation pay cashouts and retirement allowances. Severance payments, if applicable, may also be included.