Palm Bay council selects Matthew Morton as city manager after daylong interviews

Palm Bay City Council voted 4–1 on Saturday to offer the job of city manager to Matthew Morton after a daylong series of interviews with six finalists. The council met in a special session devoted to the hiring process and heard public comment before taking its final vote.

The council convened a special meeting with a single agenda item: interviews of six finalists for the city manager post. The list of finalists had been winnowed from 14 initial applicants; the application period closed Feb. 28 and eight candidates were invited for interviews, two of whom later withdrew, leaving six finalists for the council to question in person.

Morton, who served previously as a city manager and consultant in several states, told the council he would prioritize building a long-term plan to address Palm Bay’s infrastructure and economic base. "We only get one…