Eastpointe City Council spent Saturday interviewing four finalists for the city manager post but did not make a hiring decision, saying council members will consider the interviews and director feedback at their regular meeting on Tuesday.

The council conducted 45–50 minute interview sessions for each finalist after an initial closed session. James Vitrano, who ran the process for the council, told members the role is consequential: “Hiring your next city manager … is an important role that this council plays to appoint the top administrator for your community and I know you take it very seriously.”

Councilmembers heard prepared presentations and then asked a set of standard questions about management style, community engagement, infrastructure and budgeting. The four finalists who presented were Bridal Wood, Anne (Anna Catarina) Cappella, Ryan Mattis and Jason Smith. Each candidate described experience in municipal administration and emphasized resident engagement, fiscal prudence and staff development. Bridal Wood said, “Being a city manager is a lot more than looking at spreadsheets,” describing community-based approaches used in prior roles. Ryan Mattis noted the importance of incremental improvements and local implementation plans and added a lighter note—“I love trash”—while explaining his attention to everyday services.

Why it matters: The city manager will lead Eastpointe City’s departments and execute council policy on zoning, infrastructure, public safety and neighborhood code enforcement. Council members said they would use the interviews, director feedback gathered during Friday’s director roundtables and public input to choose a preferred candidate on Tuesday rather than immediately after the interviews.

What happened at the interviews: Candidates gave opening presentations and answered repeated questions from council about building trust with council and staff, managing budgets and capital programs, neighborhood investment strategies, and how to balance long‑term planning with day‑to‑day operations. Several candidates described efforts to leverage grants and public‑private partnerships for parks, streetscapes and infrastructure. Candidates also discussed employee culture, succession planning and code enforcement as tools to stabilize neighborhoods.

Public comment and next steps: The council opened the meeting to public comment after the interviews. One resident asked that candidate resumes have been provided to the public before interviews and urged the council to “take time and make the right decision.” Another speaker said they were impressed by candidate Anne Cappella and thanked the council for Saturday’s session.

Votes at a glance: Two formal actions recorded on Saturday were procedural motions.

- Motion to go into closed session pursuant to 152681F — outcome: approved (roll call recorded as yes by Councilmember Baker; Councilmember DeMonaco; Councilmember Curley; Mayor Kleinfeld; Councilmember Shadley). Motion mover/second not specified in the transcript; council recessed for the closed session and reconvened to begin interviews.

- Motion to adjourn the special meeting — outcome: approved by roll call (Councilmember Baker: yes; Councilmember DeMonaco: yes; Mayor Kleinfeld: yes; Councilmember Shadley: yes; Councilmember Curley: yes). Meeting adjourned at 1:44 p.m.

What the council said about process: Vitrano explained the interview packet and timeline and stressed that council would not decide a hire at the end of Saturday’s interviews. He noted directors had submitted verbatim feedback to council after meeting candidates the previous day, and the public could submit additional feedback through a QR code provided in the meeting materials. Councilmembers said the schedule lets them rewatch the recorded interviews and digest director feedback before Tuesday’s discussion.

Looking ahead: The council will meet in regular session Tuesday to review the interview recordings, director feedback and any public comments and to deliberate on selecting a preferred candidate. The meeting record indicates the council expects to finalize next steps in that public session rather than at the end of Saturday’s interviews.