New Danvers Town Manager Takes Reins Ahead Of Annual Town Meeting

DANVERS, MA — New Danvers town manager Jill Cahill officially took on the role this week ahead of the annual town meeting on Monday.

The Gloucester chief administrative officer since 2021 was chosen out of a field of 31 candidates for the Danvers position in March. She previously served Gloucester as its Community Development Director from 2017 to 2021. She is also the former Chief of Staff of State Senate President Karen Spilka.

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

Cahill succeeds Steve Bartha, who recently accepted the position of town manager in Lexington.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jill Cahill to Danvers," Select Board Chair Dan Bennett said. “Her leadership style, collaboration approach, and deep understanding of municipal operations make her the ideal person to guide our community.

"We are confident she will build on our strengths and help us continue to thrive as a vibrant community."

Cahill said she will launch a series of community round tables throughout the summer to hear directly from residents about their priorities, ideas, and concerns. These sessions are designed to foster open dialogue, ensure that all voices are heard, and help shape a responsive local government that reflects the needs of its citizens.

"I’m honored to join the Danvers community and lead an organization with such a strong foundation," Cahill said. "My top priorities are listening to our residents and employees, building a culture of trust and respect, and ensuring that Danvers continues to be a place where people want to live, work, and get engaged. Strong teams and a connected community are at the heart of any successful town government, and I’m excited to begin that work here."

Details on the community round tables will be finalized in the coming weeks.

(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.)