WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester Acting City Manager Eric Batista is poised to receive the job permanently after Mayor Joe Petty moved to suspend the national search to fill the job at Tuesday night's city council meeting.

Petty filed motions to suspend the search and move into contract negotiations with Batista. The motions received enough votes to pass but were held by councilor Krystian King until the next meeting on November 15. King also requested the city put together a series of meetings where Batista could engage with the community.  

Petty said since Batista took over the job in May, he's shown he is the right person for the position.

"I just think you're the right person at the right time," Petty said to Batista at Tuesday's city council meeting. "I think people articulated it right, there's someone who represents the city well, someone who deserves a chance to show what they can do, and you've shown me what you can do in the last five months. I saw you in person, in action, how you handled the situations, how you handled the issues, and the depth and knowledge that you had, which is important to me."

Batista has served as acting city manager since Ed Agustus stepped down from the role.