After a closed session meeting of the City Council on Friday, Willits Mayor Larry Stanske announced that the city had terminated its contract with City Manager Brian Bender. Before the announcement, the council had discussed Bender’s performance evaluation. Shortly after, Bender’s city email had an auto-reply message stating that he was no longer serving as City Manager and referred attention to the assistant city manager. Vice Mayor Matthew Alaniz said a press release would be forthcoming and that the council and city manager had reached a “mutual” and “amicable” agreement.