GREENFIELD — Wilson Roberts, 87, who has spent the last five years serving as the city’s parliamentarian and another 10 years as City Council president, walked out of his last City Council meeting Wednesday night, leaving the council with words of gratitude and advice on governmental procedure.

“It’s been a pleasure working with this town for many years,” Roberts said. “This particular council right now is one of the most promising I’ve ever seen. The thoughtfulness and the care and deliberation with which you give everything that comes in front of you, even frustratingly so, I’ve appreciated and respect.”

Before Roberts passed his copy of “Robert’s Rules of Order” off to Precinct 7 Councilor William “Wid” Perry, his former student at Greenfield Community College, he suggested councilors adhere to “Robert’s Rules” after he retires.

Roberts thanked Precinct 1 Councilor Katherine Golub — who recently proposed a motion to request councilors read the city’s Code of Civility and the enforcement section of “Robert’s Rules of Order” — for attempting to bring the council back to parliamentary procedure. He noted that while he does not believe requiring councilors to take oaths is necessary, he believes the council could better adhere to “Robert’s Rules.”

“Everything you need is here to run an orderly and successful meeting,” Roberts said, pointing to the book. “I know there’s some talk about asking people to take an oath, which, as a member of the public, as a parliamentarian, as a former member of this body, I find it overstepping. I’ve seen contentious councilors in the past, I know it can be difficult, and I know at one time I might have been one of them — hell, I was — but you’ve got all the processes here for handling it.”

In 1971, Roberts moved to Greenfield from Paul Smiths, New York to work at GCC, where he would stay, and serve as professor emeritus of English and folklore until 2001. He previously taught at Paul Smith’s College and said he spent a great deal of time “mucking around” small colleges across the East Coast and the Carolinas, but had not truly found a community where he felt he fit in until he moved to Greenfield.

After he served as City Council president for roughly a decade, former Mayor William Martin created the role of parliamentarian — a non-partisan moderator to ensure councilors adhered to the rules and procedures of government — and asked Roberts to step into the position.

“All local government is critical to making our lives work in civil fashion. It’s not always pretty and it’s not always fun. ... Democracy may not be perfect, may be a terrible form of government, but it’s the best we have,” Roberts said. “[Parliamentary procedure] might seem stuffy, and it can be sometimes, but if a political body takes it seriously, it is a good blueprint for running an orderly meeting.”

Bidding adieu to his Chestnut Hill house, which he has called home since 1987, Roberts said he will soon move to Shelburne. He plans to spend his retirement playing his banjo and writing his 20th novel “Jack,” which he described as a “bedtime story for adults” about the fairy tale character Jack, if he never climbed a bean stock, but instead worked at a fix-it shop in Greenfield and was able to harness death.

At-Large City Councilor Penny Ricketts, one of Roberts’ former students, wished him well at the end of Wednesday night’s meeting, crediting Roberts with developing her public speaking skills. Precinct 3 Councilor Michael Mastrototaro asked Roberts to promise to visit in the future with his banjo.

“Every time I speak on council floor, I have to look at him and thank him for giving me that confidence that I have today,” Ricketts said. “You’ve done so much for Greenfield. I miss you already and I love you so much.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.