Ypsilanti narrows city manager candidates to 3; decision expected Monday

Council decided that City Clerk Frances McMullan, who is currently serving as interim city manager; Grosse Pointe Shores City Manager Brian Vick, and Ralph Lange, executive director of the Henry County (Ohio) Improvement Corp., would move onto the next round of interviews.

They will be interviewed in an open session at 6 p.m. Monday in City Hall. Council members plan to make a decision right after the interviews conclude Monday.

Mayor Pro-Tem Lois Richardson briefly advocated for including Jered Ottenwess, city manager in Ishpeming, Mich., but no one else supported his candidacy. Ottenwess is a former City of Ypsilanti intern who also has served as the Trenton, Fla., city manager.

Council had initially aimed to decide on a manager during the meeting Thursday, but members decided to take more time to come to a unanimous decision on one candidate.

“I do believe that is a decision I would like to see us be unanimous on,” Mayor Pro-Tem Lois Richardson said.

Council Member Ricky Jefferson said that with a job of such importance, the Council has to be sure its decision is the right one.

“Too accomplish what we need here is going to take a lot; it’s going to take vision,” Jefferson said. “They’re going to have to understand the dynamic of the city.”

Former Ypsilanti City Manager Ed Koryzno left for a job in the state Treasury Department.