La Marque council recesses into executive session to interview city manager candidates

The La Marque City Council recessed into executive session at 2:17 p.m. on May 1 under the Texas Government Code to conduct initial interviews of eight candidates for city manager, saying each interview would last about 20 minutes and that the council hoped to narrow the pool to three candidates before leaving the closed session.

The mayor announced that the council reserved the right to adjourn into executive session as authorized by the Texas Government Code sections that allow consultation with the attorney and deliberations on personnel matters. The mayor said the council would move into executive session under Tex. Gov't Code §551.074 for personnel matters related to the city manager appointment and that interviews would be conducted in that session.

Before recessing, the mayor confirmed the process and told council members they would conduct initial interviews of eight candidates and attempt to reduce the number to three during the same meeting. The mayor also noted that the council could not vote in executive session to appoint or hire a public officer; personnel deliberations were to be handled in closed session and any formal appointment would require an open, public action consistent with state law.

The transcript records the council recessed to executive session at 2:17 p.m.; details of the interviews and any votes or decisions were not included in the public portion of the record.

Next steps: The council will return to open session after the interviews; if the council wishes to take formal action on appointment or direction, that action must occur in public session and be recorded in the minutes.