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La Marque council advances two finalists for city manager after executive-session interviews
Summary
After interviewing three semifinalists in executive session, the La Marque City Council voted to advance Shauna Burkhart and Michael Dilmore as finalists; finalist interviews and a short reception are scheduled for July 27. Council member Lowry raised a complaint that he was denied access to candidate materials; city IT said it would investigate.
La Marque Mayor Bell said the city council on July 20 interviewed three semifinalists for the city manager post and voted to advance two candidates for finalist interviews scheduled July 27.
"We had wonderful experiences meeting with our three semifinalists," Mayor Bell said after the council returned from executive session, adding that the council intended to trim the list to two finalists and hold a short reception followed by finalist interviews at the next meeting.
The action followed an executive session the council held under provisions of the Texas Government Code to consider personnel matters. The presiding officer cited multiple sections of the code that permit executive discussion of personnel and related deliberations.
During public proceedings before the recess, Council member Lowry put on the record that he had not been given access to candidate materials. "I was not afforded the same opportunity of my peer as my peers," Lowry said, adding that he had been unable to see candidate information and had asked the city manager for assistance. He said his email access had been intermittently unavailable and that he only regained access upon arriving at the meeting.
Miss Holly, a city staff member in the information-technology area, responded that "Not that we're aware of, sir," and that IT's records indicated Lowry had been receiving emails. She said the IT director had been investigating and that staff would report back when they had a determination.
After returning from executive session, a council member moved to advance "Miss Shauna Burkhart and Mr. Michael Dilmore" as the two finalists for city manager; another council member seconded the motion. The presiding officer called for the vote; the transcript records an affirmative and a negative voice vote on the floor. The motion was adopted and the council proceeded to the next agenda item. The council announced a short reception and finalist interviews to take place on July 27.
The meeting record does not include a full roll-call tally of the vote in the public transcript; the record shows the motion was seconded and carried and that the council scheduled the next-step interviews. City staff were asked to follow up on Lowry's access concern and report back.
The council adjourned after brief announcements and expressions of appreciation for public-works crews who repaired a water leak on Lamar Street. Finalist interviews and the reception are set for the council's July 27 meeting; the council did not indicate any additional public hearings or votes on the appointment at this session.
