Key player in Winnipeg's public service retires after 3 decades with city

One of the key players in the upper echelons of Winnipeg's public service left the city last week, on the same day his retirement was announced.

John Zabudney managed city's real estate division; fire-paramedic audit showed he questioned land swap

Bartley Kives CBC News Posted: Apr 14, 2017 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: April 14, 2017

Winnipeg real estate manager John Zabudney (seated at centre) retired last week. (CBC)

One of the key players in the upper echelons of Winnipeg's public service left the city last week, on the same day his retirement was announced.

John Zabudney, who managedthe city's real estate division, left the public service on April 7, said John Kiernan, the city's director of planning, property and development.

Zabudneywas a city employee for 30 years,starting as a land surveyor. From 2011 until last week, he was responsible for overseeing all real estate transactions, including property sales, purchases, leases andappraisals.

He also served as real estate manager during a contentious time for his division. In 2013, city council ordered up an audit of major real-estate transactions, including several that took place when he was the real-estate manager.

"The real-estate portfolio can be very volatile," Zabudney said Thursday in an interview.

"I've been through a lot and I always stood my ground and been true. My director would be the first one to say I'm the most loyal city employee there is. I'm looking forward to my next steps in my life."

A quiet person in public at city hall, Zabudney played a crucial role behind the scenes.

In 2012, he questioned athree-for-one land swap that would have transferred two former city fire-paramedic stations and a vacant city riverfront property to Shindico Realty, in exchange for the site of the new fire-paramedic Station No. 12 on Taylor Avenue.

"How are we going to justify this land exchange. This deal favoursShindicoby $1.03 million," Zabudney wrote to former city property director Barry Thorgrimson in March 2012, according to anexternal audit completed after the three-for-one land swap was cancelled by the city.

Winnipeg chief administrative officer Doug McNeilnoted the length of Zabudney's commitment to the city.

"Mr.Zabudney, after 30 years of service, just decided it was time to retire and we wish him all the best going forward," McNeilsaid Thursday in an interview at city hall.

'Concerns' over Waverley underpass property

Zabudney's retirement took place three weeks after Mayor Brian Bowman said he asked McNeilto find out how real-estate officials lost trackof one of the pieces of property they needed to acquire in order to build the Waverley underpass.

"Our CAO has been certainly apprised by many of us, who have recently learned at a high level of this matter, of our concerns, and I understand he's taking it very seriously from a human resource perspective," Bowman said on March 23.

Zabudney, however, said he simply chose to retire.

"I had a very difficult portfolio. I had my 30 years," he said. "I'm so looking forward to moving on. I have nothing but great things and praise for the employees at the city and especially my staff."

McNeiladvised against drawing any conclusion from the timing ofZabudney's retirementor the fact the departure appeared sudden.

Kiernanis acting as real estate manager in Zabudney's place.

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Key player in Winnipeg's public service retires after 3 decades with city

John Zabudney managed city's real estate division; fire-paramedic audit showed he questioned land swap

'Concerns' over Waverley underpass property

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