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Eastpointe City Council votes to offer city manager job to Brian Wood; Ryan Mattis named alternate
Summary
After a public recruitment and in‑person interviews, the Eastpointe City Council voted unanimously Oct. 7 to authorize an offer to Brian Wood for city manager and to appoint Ryan Mattis as the alternate; the city attorney will negotiate contract terms including a residency incentive and return the final agreement for council approval.
The Eastpointe City Council voted unanimously Oct. 7 to authorize an offer to Brian Wood to serve as city manager and named Ryan Mattis as the alternate if Wood declines.
Vetrano Consulting, which conducted the recruitment, told the council it received 39 applications, screened candidates by video interview and advanced four finalists to in‑person interviews with opportunities for public feedback and department head review. A consultant summary provided to councilmembers and the public was the basis for the discussion.
Multiple councilmembers said they favored Wood for his documented community engagement and familiarity with municipal operations. One councilmember said Wood’s “boots on the ground” approach and willingness to work with stakeholders stood out in interviews; others praised Mattis’s high energy and leadership style and recommended him as a second choice.
Council then moved to authorize the city attorney to prepare contract terms and make an offer to Wood; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call. The council separately approved Mattis as the alternate candidate to be approached if Wood declines. The city attorney will return to the council with a draft employment agreement for a final vote.
Members discussed several contract elements they want the attorney to include or consider during negotiations. The council referenced prior manager agreements and discussed a residency incentive intended to encourage a new manager to move into Eastpointe City. Councilmembers mentioned a prior contract provision that paid $10,000 if the manager lived in the city and suggested strengthening that incentive (one example discussed was an upfront $30,000 payment prorated over a multi‑year commitment). Councilmembers also signaled a preference for a three‑year contract term but left salary and final terms to negotiation and a future public vote on the employment agreement.
Next steps: the city attorney will negotiate terms with the preferred candidate, return a draft contract for council consideration and then the council will vote on formal employment approval.
