August 9--Mayor Ackermann announces a month-long moratorium announces a month-long moratorium on the City Manager debate, saying in a prepared statement that she will call no more special meetings of the Council until the five CCA councillors agree on a candidate.

"I won't make any agreement on a successor until we remove Corcoran," Owens tells the Cambridge Chronicle. "Then let's elect a man who has five votes."

A MONTH WENT BY and at the beginning of the Council session on September 11, Ackermann distributed copies of a letter of withdrawal received from Peterson. The City Clerk read the letter to seven councillors--Owens had not arrived--and many interested spectators.

"Needless to say, the past months have been difficult and trying not only for me and my family, but also, I'm sure, for you and the citizens of Cambridge," Peterson wrote. "I hope that in the days ahead the City can resolve the issue of the City Managership.

With this news the ballgame was over.

Moncreiff asked for a suspension of the rules so that the Council could immediately deal' with the matter of the City Manager. The rules were suspended and Duehay explained that his forthcoming vote, on a motion by Danehy urging of the Council's vote to fire Corcoran on August 2, is not an easy one.

"Although John Corcoran was not my first choice, I cannot stand by and ask the minority members and people of Cambridge to undergo the many trials of a new search, I will not participate any further in forcing the Administration of this City to act under the threat of dismissal," Duehey said.

Moncreiff also gave his reasons for ending the battle: "There is a great deal to be said for continuity, for not changing the City Manager every two years, I hope he (Corcoran) will to conduct himself that his removed will not be an home in the next elections.

But Graham refused is join the surrender, saying simply, "I ran on a pledge to replace John Corcoran... James Johnson, a qualified candidate, it still available...Corcoran has shown in the past that he cannot lead the city, and I don't think he can do so in the future, that I vote no to reconsider."

The vote to reconsider the August 2 vote firing Corcoran is passed 7-1 with Grahan voting no and Owens still absent.

Councillor Walter, J. Sullivan one of the four independents who had watched the long struggle ln fascination, introduced a motion giving City Manager Corcoran a vote of confidence. It was passed by the same margin 7-1.

About 30 minutes later Owens entered the Council chamber. he said he was late because he had been waiting for a telephone call from Johnson in Kansas City.

"Johnson told me he was available to be City Manager if the Council wished it, and that's why I wish to be recorded as voting against" Corcoran, because I still feel that Johnson is the best qualified man," Owens said.

SO THE LONG NIGHT is over and the City Council will now have to work with Corcoran to solve Cambridge's many pressing problems.

There is no point in assessing blame except to provide a lesson for the future. In this context it is difficult to justify Owens's behavior. He broke his public promise to follow the decision of the panel of community leaders, who endorsed Peterson over Johnson.