Eastpointe City Council on Oct. 27 unanimously received and filed a withdrawal letter from the leading candidate for city manager and voted to direct the city attorney to begin negotiations with the second-ranked candidate, Ryan Mattis.

The action came at a special meeting called after the top candidate withdrew his application. Council member Baker said the withdrawal prompted the meeting: "We had a candidate withdraw his, candidacy. So we had to have a meeting today to give direction to move forward with the next person and have a discussion." Council members then moved to receive and file the letter and to authorize the city attorney to proceed with negotiations.

The council called the roll on both motions; Mayor Kleinfeld, Council member Baker, Council member Curley, Council member DeMonaco and Council member Shadlik all voted yes. The council did not enter closed session; members said they earlier had given staff direction that, if negotiations with the first candidate failed, the city would move to the second candidate. One member noted the draft agreement presented to the council is "everything is identical except the names have been changed."

City attorney Albright answered a procedural question about numbered fringe-benefit references in the draft, saying the numbers cited are sections of the city's administrative code.

Mayor Kleinfeld repeated the name of the candidate to be negotiated with: Ryan Mattis. Council then moved to adjourn.