Robbins could soon have a new town manager.

The Town Board will meet in closed session Thursday to interview finalists in the months'-long search for a successor to Brant Sikes. He was the first manager since the northern Moore County town changed its charter. He resigned earlier this year to take a job with the county.

Tommy Combs has been filling in on interim basis and helping guide Robbins through its discussions with the county commissioners on how the town's abundant water resources could help the whole county.

Robbins completed its three years with the Rural Center for Economic Development as one of the experimental sites chosen for the center's first N.C. STEP run. Combs traveled to Raleigh with Mayor Theron Bell, Commissioner Mark Garner, Marketing Director Randall Moore and other residents for the ceremony.

It has been a busy time for the Robbins town commissioners, with many special meetings called to address various issues. On Tuesday night, in yet another specially called meeting, they met in executive session to plan strategy for negotiations on a possible water/sewer deal with the county. They set a date to hold the required public hearing on a contiguous annexation request from Richard Joel and Martha Reynolds Boswell.

Annexation would bring Joey Boswell's property into city limits, making him eligible to run for public office in Robbins. Boswell has been very active with RobbinsAlive! and other community improvement efforts as well as bringing new businesses into town and encouraging others.

In the past, there have been times when Robbins had more vacancies on its town board than people who were willing to serve. Many of the present members on the board hold their spots as a result of actions taken by the board to fill some vacancy following a resignation.

Things are different today. There are a number of residents besides Boswell who are expressing an interest in running for election next fall for a seat on the board.

The town is waiting to hear about the progress of a special bill to de-annex the site of a convenience store at the Robbins Crossing so it will be able to take advantage of arecently passed ABC measure in Bensalem Township legalizing the sale of beer as well as wine. Currently, in Robbins, only wine may be sold.

That could take a month or so for a local bill to come before the General Assembly, according to Combs. In the meantime, the board has been busy conducting its interviews with applicants for his job.

Now it appears a final choice is about to be made on a permanent town manager.

The board could come to at least a preliminary decision Thursday, according to Combs. No announcement is expected that night, however. The town will have to complete background and other checks on the applicant.

"There is an expense to that, of course," Combs said Tuesday morning. "There are firms who do those checks, and you have to do them these days, have to check education, police records, everything."

It should not take long, however, once the board members come to a decision. Robbins will be bidding an affectionate farewell with many thanks to Combs and rolling out the welcome mat for their final pick.

Whoever is hired, he or she will find a full desk of work waiting on that first day on the job in Robbins.

Contact John Chappell at 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.