Bay Roberts mayor not running for re-election
In the mayor’s office at the back of the Bay Roberts Municipal Building, Philip Wood is doing one of the duties he’s had for the last decade.
Sitting at a large black desk in the shadow of a signed red Bobby Hull Chicago Blackhawks jersey, the longtime Bay Roberts mayor is signing cheques for staff.
These days of municipal governance are numbered for Wood. The previous night, on May 25, the 66-year-old from Bay Roberts announced he will not seek re-election in September.
“I felt you shouldn’t overstay your welcome, and the time has come,” Wood said about his decision to step away at the end of his current term.
Wood first joined the council in the fall of 2008 after winning a byelection. He followed that with a regular election win in 2009 and served for two years as the town’s deputy mayor.
Wood became mayor in 2011, succeeding Glenn Littlejohn in the position when Littlejohn made a successful bid to enter provincial politics.
“Since retiring as an educator and school administrator in 2008, I have had the pleasure and the privilege of serving the remarkable municipality of Bay Roberts,” Wood said.
MANY CHALLENGES
In his prepared remarks, Wood made note of the challenges the town faced during his time as mayor and some of the difficulties that came from those challenges.
He mentioned Dark NL, Snowmageddon, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a tragic accident several years ago that claimed the lives of two contractors working on the municipal building in town.
There were some disappointments as well for Wood. He specifically cited delays to the Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games announced for Bay Roberts and the stalling of the Bay Roberts business park development.
Still, there were plenty of positives during his years on council. Bay Roberts has enjoyed a steady increase in population and residential development, as well as several infrastructure improvements across town. Expanded recreational facilities and a focus on heritage are among the things Wood points to as great steps the town took during his time on council.
The replacement for the aging Coley’s Point Primary and the return of a standalone Bay Roberts detachment of the RCMP also coincided with his stint as mayor.
“All I did was try and build on the work of previous councils,” said Wood.
Wood is the seventh mayor in the 71-year history of Bay Roberts as an incorporated municipality.
GIVING OTHERS A CHANCE
He hopes that by announcing his plans to move on early, it might give the upcoming municipal election a bit of a boost and inspire others to put their name on the ballot.
Wood said he always took pride in his role as the town’s mayor.
“It is something that I enjoyed, and I don’t regret anything,” he said.
After Wood addressed the other town council members, they gave him a round of applause.
There were also handshakes and hugs when the meeting concluded.
Deputy Mayor Walter Yetman thanked Wood for his service to the town over the last decade and wished him all the best in retirement.
“You have represented the town very well and we thank you so much for that,” Yetman said. “You’ve left quite the legacy in the town.”
“I felt you shouldn’t overstay your welcome, and the time has come.”
Mayor Philip Wood Bay Roberts