Power in Barnstable is split on purpose between two people. The Town Manager is the hired professional who runs the town every day, the way a chief executive runs a company. The Council President is a councilor the others elect to lead the elected board and run its meetings. One job is permanent staff, the other is your neighbors holding the staff accountable. Barnstable has no separately elected mayor, and that is by design.
The Town Manager
Mark S. Ells
Mark Ells has run Barnstable as Town Manager since 2016, but he did not parachute in. A licensed professional engineer, he climbed through the town’s own ranks, including stints as Director of Public Works and Assistant Town Manager, before the Council handed him the top job. He is appointed by the Council and can be replaced by it. In between, he oversees every department, writes the annual operating and capital budgets, and carries out the policies the Council sets.
| Role | Town Manager (chief executive) |
|---|---|
| In office | Since 2016 |
| Office | Town Hall, 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 |
| Phone | 508-862-4610 |
| Website | barnstable.gov |
The Council President
Craig A. Tamash
Craig Tamash represents Precinct 4 and serves as President of the Town Council. As President he sets the Council’s agenda and chairs its meetings, which makes him the highest elected presiding officer in town. What he does not do is run the departments: that is the Town Manager’s job, and the Manager works for the Council, not the other way around. Councilor Kris Clark of Precinct 11 serves as Vice President.
| Role | Town Council President (Precinct 4 councilor) |
|---|---|
| Office | Town Council, 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 |
| Phone | 508-862-4738 (Council office) |
| Website | barnstable.gov |
Who Does What
- The Town Manager hires the department heads, builds and runs the budget, signs the contracts, and keeps daily operations moving. The Council hired the Manager and the Council can replace the Manager.
- The Council President sets the agenda, runs the meetings, and speaks for the Council, but casts just one vote out of thirteen and runs no departments.
- Together they balance hired expertise against elected accountability. That balance is the whole point of council-manager government.
Contact & Engage
- Town Hall: 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Citizen Resource Line: 508-862-4925. You call, you ask, they answer.
- Watch: Town Council meetings air on Barnstable Government Access (Xfinity Ch. 8 / 1070, HD 1072) and stream online.
- Comment: you may speak in person or by Zoom, or send written comments to Council@barnstable.gov.
Sources
Barnstable government website (tobweb.town.barnstable.ma.us). Verified July 2026.
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