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La Marque council outlines city manager search, appoints Joshua Pritchett interim and approves interim pay
Summary
The La Marque City Council approved a 45‑day application period and vetting process for a permanent city manager, appointed Deputy Manager Joshua Pritchett as interim city manager and approved pay to cover any salary difference back to Jan. 13.
La Marque — The La Marque City Council on Feb. 3 approved a plan for hiring a permanent city manager, named Deputy Manager Joshua Pritchett as interim city manager and approved compensation to cover any interim pay owed from Jan. 13.
Council adopted a hiring process that opens the application period on the day of the vote and keeps it open for 45 days. The motion set baseline qualifications of a master’s degree and/or five years of municipal government experience, directed the appointment of a two-member council vetting committee and set a goal of naming a final candidate by May 1, 2025.
"That committee will be councilwoman District A, Kimberly Yancey, [and] councilman District C, Joseph Lowery, to vet all applications," a council member said while explaining the motion. The initial two-member committee’s charge is to screen applicants to a recommended list — the motion specified a submission of at least 10 applicants to the full council, after which the full council will select three finalists for interviews.
After returning from executive session, council members considered three related actions. The council first voted on a nomination to name Randall Aragon interim city manager; that nomination failed on a 2–3 vote. Council then nominated Deputy Manager Joshua Pritchett for interim city manager; that motion passed with three votes in favor, one opposed and the mayor pro tem recorded an abstention. The council later approved a separate motion to make Pritchett whole for any salary amounts he did not receive between Jan. 13 and the date he assumed interim duties.
Why it matters: the council’s motion sets a public timeline for recruiting a permanent manager and specifies local council participation in initial vetting. Staff and council members also discussed using a small outside firm to assist with vetting and background checks for finalists; council said the firm would help with steps the council should not perform directly (for example, credit and certain background checks).
Council discussion also clarified that, if a permanent city manager is later appointed who is not the interim appointee, the interim will return to his prior position unless the incoming manager makes a different staffing decision. Council directed staff to publish the job posting and provide information to the public about the city manager role and charter duties so residents can better understand the position and its evaluation.
