Village Manager Happy At Budget Deadline Time (Miami Herald) 8-28-67VILLAGE -
MA-NIAGERS
'Truly'W'' "U OUS cor"Jill'unitv
V'11a of
I ge Manager Lawrence Robbirts views North Palm Beach
By -61-LL CHARNLEY
Herald Staff Writer
NORTH PALM BEACH — Ws budget
deadline -time, and Larry Robbins, new vil-
lage manager, couldn't be happier.
"I can't think of a, better way to become
thoroughly knowledgeable about the econo-m-
i le health and Philosophy of a, community in
the shortest Possible time," he said, riffling a
three-inch thick packet of departmental
reports.
Si nce takHi I fWir, over the post July 17, Rob-
bins has been deeply huniersed ill the budget,
which will presented to the village council
Sept. I.
And he has attended dozens of � committee
Meetings during the evenings after his 8 a.m.
to 5 P. M-. working day.
ijym a great believer in board and cony-
mittee Id
s,
meetin9" he said. "From them, YOU
get the real pulse of the community.,,
Michigan born, Robbins recelved. a bach-
elors. degree In business administration at
I
3/fichigan State University before to
University 1-110ving
Florida 11 years ago with his ivife, Janice,
and their five children.
His en'tiT,e. career has been one of public
service. and. government.
"Municipal government is service to peo-
ple, the residents,. and it is that aspect which
makes, It interesting, challenging," he said,
explaining his philosophy.
In tnuiiiOpal worlk there is great saris
faction in getting thing's done, doing things
for other people," he added.
it Is obvious that he has been successful
in Iniplenienting that philosophy. For the
three: years prior to his move here he had
n-ianaged the municipal affairs of Palm Day,
r
whose councilmen thought so highly of his
work that they recently read a resolution of
glowing tributes for him into their minutes,
then sent a copy to him here.
Gzing out the window of his office In the
village hall, Robbins said, "This is truly a
fabulous Community. The residents are vital-
ly community minded, active and, interested.
And they have ali impressive and well
rounded set of activities for everyone, chil
d , ren and adults alike a cultural art cen-
ter, ballet school, senior citizens center,
beautification committee and a municipal'
golf. and country club.'"
Admitting that he ".likes golf, but haveWt
had time to play for many years," he pre-
dicted that it would eventually be "one of
our activities here.
"This is the first time we have lived in
the tropical portion of Florida, and we are
looking for -ward to enjoying it thoroughly, he
AN
said.
ro �
�.
Larry Robb -ins
NP Beach..M.anager Unique
Larry Robbins, manager of
0"the Village of. North Palm
Beach, is unique in modern
city government.
Robbins is unique, first,
because he has been manager
of North Palm Beach five and
one half years. He's been there
longer than any other manager
has remained with a
i
munici ty or city in Palm
Beach taliounty.
Most city managers "grow
out" of their towns
quickly,
movina on to bigger cities —or
they develop rifts with their
city councils, causing their
moves to be hastened.
Larry Robbins is in no hurry
to move anywhere.
"No," lie lays, with definite
feeling, "I don't want to go
anywhere else. . 1)d like to
Itay in city management and
'd like to stay right here. .
.this is the greatest community
in the country."
Nor has Larry Robbins ever
been in serious disagreement
with city council. The
councilmen, and the people
they represent, just don't kick
.about the kind of city
management that has created a
surplus in the Village treasury
every year since Robbing took
the job —and caused taxes to be
education."
Unlike most city managers
flow, Robbins did not study.
Public Administration in
college -to- become a manager.
He's much older (50) than
he looks, it seems, and they
didn't even have Public
Administration courses when
he took his BA at Michigan
State.
He started, in, fact, with a
career in the electro
lowered last year. mechanical field in his home
"Oh., the councilmen have state of Michigan.
all been wonderful people," "Having journeyed to
Robbins says, "'They're easy to Florida' several times with an
work with Highly elect ro-mechanical firm
cooperative."
finally asked myself, 'Why wait
Second, Larry Robbins is for retirement?' and came here
unique in that, as 'he puts it, to stay 16 years ago," he
"he's a *city manager by recalls,, "My first job here was
experience, not by formal 'M'' law enforcement in Brevard
County. I stayed there four
years."
Robbins became noticed as a
lawman by the city manager
where he worked.
That manager suggested he
would make a good city
manager himself and,
accordingly, Robbins soon
went, to work- as a city clerk.
He worked his way up in city
administration until he reached
the North Palm Beach Village
manager's chair.
Now, Larry Robbins is one
of the busiest men around.
The manager of North Palm
Beach is responsible for
v i r t it a I I y the entire
administration of the
community. He's a purchasing
agent, a personnel director, a
budgeter, a consultant on
programs for the city council,
and . supervisor of the total
operation of the community.
Some of the load may have
been taken Off with the hiring
of a- full time manager for the
Village Country Club. Robbins
was handling that job on top of
his regular duties until this
week.
But he's still a mighty busy
man. The phone on his desk
seems to never stop ringing and
there's nearly always someone
in his office.
But Larry Robbins likes it
that way.
"I definitely encourage
young people to get into city
management," he says, "I
personally find great
Continued on page 4
a
—Flerald Staff Photo by BATTLE VAUGHAN
Asysen mand MUG Wlyd HIHON