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Jun 1, 2006
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Jun 1, 2006
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| Online Phonebook | Sandhills Guide | Business News | National News |
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In a surprise move, "Buddy" Robinson says he will quit his job rather than leave the Robbins town board.
"After much soul-searching, I have decided I am going to stay on the board," Robinson said. "The people of Robbins elected me for four years. I feel like I made a promise to serve that term." Robbins is moving to change its town charter to go from a mayor-council to a manager-council government. State law would not allow Robinson to serve both on the board and as a town employee once the town operates with a town manager. It is considered to be a conflict of interest, since commissioners supervise managers, and managers supervise employees. He would be his boss's boss. At first, because he needed the job, Robinson was going to leave the board. After thinking it over, he has decided to find another job so he can work with other commissioners to see his town through a time of great change. "I like my job, and I like the people I work with," Robinson said. "I have no personal ax to grind, but I have lived here most of my life. If I gave up the board for a job, I feel like I would be quitting on the town. I can do more for the town and its employees if I stay on the board. I just feel like it is more important." Robbins is welcoming the first new employers after years of seeing shops close and jobs lost. The town won a coveted slot on NC STEP, an N.C. Rural Center test initiative aimed at coaching small towns toward greater prosperity. The board has started working with Josh Ray, town manager of nearby Biscoe, toward a regional small-town partnership with other towns, including Candor, another NC STEP participant. At the last meeting, commissioners directed Town Clerk Debra Cockman to initiate procedures for changing the charter to a manager-council form of government. After years and years of defeats and stalled hopes, Robinson sees a new energy taking life in the once-prosperous mill town in the foothills of Moore County. He senses a growing excitement about the future of Robbins, and he wants to be part of it all. "We are doing a whole lot of things right now," Robinson said. "A lot is happening. I would like to see some of them all the way through. NC STEP opened a lot of doors for us. Things will better Robbins. I'd like to see some of these things finished. To me, it is important to see our town prosper once again. That's what I would like to do." There was nothing wrong originally with taking the job working for the town and being on the board at the same time, he says. "Everything I am doing is legal and aboveboard," Robinson said. "The town's lawyer approved everything. Right now, it is not a conflict of interest -- but with the new structure it will be." Any criticism of his double status played no role in his decision. "Has nothing to do with it," he said. "I don't pay attention to what people say. I have more important things to do. I come from the old school, I guess. Sometimes it is best to leave things alone." Having a town manager will make town operations move more efficiently. "I think town manager is a good move," he said. "I see things happening by going that route. It will cut out a lot of conflict right now with too many people trying to tell others what to do. This way we will have less misunderstanding about who is supposed to do what. The other way is hard for employees, puts them in an awkward position to have so many people who can tell them what to do." Robbins needs its citizens to keep up their hopes and pitch in to help with all the changes -- but they need to keep their patience as well. Change takes time and perseverance. "It took four years to get Domino's and Subway out there," he said. "You have to believe. I wish we could get somebody who could use 100,000 gallons of water again, but that may not happen. I feel like the town manager from Biscoe has helped us, given us direction." The biggest challenge will be finding the right person to be Robbins' town manager, Robinson feels. "I hope whoever they pick to fill the position on the board will be somebody that cares, wants to go forward, and will work with everybody," he said. "We will have to work together and let the manager do his job. It is important. I look at it as a big family. These workers I worked with every day, the board, has gotten to be like family. When all is said and done, we all want the best for Robbins. That is the main thing. That is what we are working for." In the meantime, he will stay on the job. Cockman will find out exactly when Robinson will have to leave his job or his seat on the board in order to comply with state law. "I don't know when that is," he said. "But I can't see anything but good ahead. Put all this together. I really can't." |
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