Bill Robinson

Sep 25, 2014

Councillor

Bill Robinson – a man of the people

Bill Robinson moved to Harrowsmith when he left the armed forces in 1969. He purchased the Supertest Service Centre at that time and ran it for five years while working in the penitentiary service. He retired from Collins Bay Pen in 1988. He also worked for many years at the Verona waste disposal site.

In the year 2000 he sought a seat on council in Portland District and was successful. He has been a member of council ever since, making him the longest-serving member of Council in the post-amalgamation era. He is seeking his fifth mandate in this election.

“My main focus as a councilor for the future is my district of Portland. First and foremost is my duty to look after the district of Portland,” he said. “I always listen to what people have to say and I always call everything the way I see it,” he said, “that makes me something of a man of the people. I represent the people to the Council.”

To that end he said he sometimes has to cut through some of the bureaucratic language at the Council table to make his points.

“I don't think they all like my point blank answers, and at times it makes some enemies at council or even among staff, but that's the way it is.”

In terms of issues coming forward, he said he is looking very carefully at a proposed subdivision on Petworth Road near Hartington, because of water issues.

“They seem to have cut that one down a little bit, maybe backed off a little bit, but someone has to keep watch all the time,” he said.

He says another thing that concerns him is that he sees staff sometimes move on projects before council has had its say.

As an example, he cited a proposal for a roundabout at Stars Corners (Wilton and Yarker Roads) which he said was about to be implemented before he heard about it and argued against it at council.

“It was something that wasn't needed,” he said. “You have to keep your eye open for these things. I have in the past and I plan to keep doing so in the future,” he said.