The Cleveland City Council agreed Thursday to offer the city manager's position to Joe Fivas.
Mr. Fivas was previously city manager in Indian Trail, N.C., a fast growing suburban city of Charlotte.
The Council appointed a committee to negotiate a contract with Mr.
Fivas. The committee includes Cleveland Personnel Director Jeff Davis, City Councilman Dale Hughes, and city consultant Larry Wallace.
The council also agreed to a final background check of Mr. Fivas.
Councilman Richard Banks made the motion to offer the top city administrative position to Mr. Fivas, seconded by Mr. Hughes.
Mr. Fivas was one of the final four candidates for the job interviewed by the Council on June 6 and 7. A Council-appointed citizens committee reviewed an initial field of 63 candidates and reduced the finalists to five. One of those withdrew from consideration before the face-to-face interviews.
"They are all quality people," Councilman Hughes said. "I just feel the gentleman from the Charlotte area will bring more to the table for Cleveland."
The search for a city manager began early this year when Janice Casteel announced her retirement following a 42-year career with the city including the last nine as city manager.