The La Marque City Council voted 3–2 to extend interim city manager Barbara Holly’s contract for an additional six months and to require a 45‑day overlap for transition with a future permanent hire. The special-called meeting on personnel matters featured sharp exchanges over timing, cost and an unverified allegation the council said it had received by email.

The motion, made by a councilmember identified in the record as Speaker 5 and seconded, specified a flat six‑month extension to Ms. Holly’s existing arrangement and an additional 45 days to assist a newly hired city manager with transition and onboarding. The council adopted the motion after debate and a roll-call voice vote recorded as 3 in favor and 2 opposed.

During discussion, Mayor Pro Tem (speaker 2) said the interim manager’s contract “translates to $360,000” annually in equivalent cost and argued for immediately beginning a search for a permanent city manager so the process would be transparent and avoid any perception of an inside track. The mayor and other councilmembers cited the need for stability through the budget cycle and warned that switching managers midstream could be disruptive.

A point of contention arose when Speaker 6 told the council that “there’s been illegal conduct with Ms. Barbara Holly, and she has been made aware of that by the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office,” and asked that the council table action to review the allegation. Mayor Bill and other members responded that the city could review the emailed allegation but noted legal risk in acting on unverified information. The mayor said at‑will contracts can be terminated with proper notice if misconduct is later verified.

Council members also clarified employment rules discussed on the record: one member stated on the record that, because of how the interim engagement was arranged, Ms. Holly “cannot be considered” for the permanent city manager position; later in the meeting a speaker stated, “I cannot apply for the permanent position at all. At all,” reflecting an assertion on the record about eligibility.

The council directed that a search for a permanent city manager be initiated during the extension period; members said they plan to engage a qualified search firm and include community and department manager input in the recruitment. The mayor noted the council could revisit contractual termination if allegations are verified and the proper process is followed.

The special meeting adjourned after the vote; the mayor said the regular meeting would reconvene shortly. The council did not announce any immediate personnel action based solely on the allegation during the special meeting.