Danvers Picks New Town Manager In Unanimous Select Board Vote

DANVERS, MA — Gloucester Chief Administrator Jill Cahill will become the next town manager in Danvers pending successful contract negotiations after the Select Board unanimously chose to offer her the position out of a field of 31 candidates on Tuesday night.

Cahill has served in that position since January 2022 and previously served Gloucester as its Community Development Director from 2017 to 2021. She is also the former Chief of Staff of State Sen. President Karen Spilka.

She was one of two finalists to interview publicly for the position last week along with former Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald.

• Danvers Interviews 2 Town Manager Candidates, Decision Due

Cahill is set to replace Steve Bartha, who left the town in October to become the town manager in Lexington.

"She shows honesty and integrity and is someone I feel we want for our town," Select Board member Maureen Bernard said in endorsing Cahill. "Her commitment and passion for Gloucester, I feel her commitment and passion will be here in Danvers too. Jill will take Danvers to the next level, which is what we need. And her experience working with grants, and the state and federal government is a benefit to Danvers. Her involvement with the (Gloucester) schools implementing policies and programs will be another asset for our town.

"Her leadership will showcase Danvers as a place to live, work, learn and play."

Select Board Chair Dan Bennett highlighted Cahill's references as one determining factor in her being the ultimate choice.

"She has the faith and respect of everyone who works for the city," he said. "She does a great job of balancing different interests, listening to people and trying to build bridges. In this role, (a strength) was her ability to build relationships and actively listen to people with respect.

"That's a common theme in these comments. That's why, at the end of the day, I chose Jill Cahill to be our next town manager."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)