City Leadership
The Mayor’s Office
The Mayor
Michael P. Cahill
When a Beverly street goes unplowed or a new building rises downtown, one elected official owns the result. Michael P. Cahill is the chief executive of Beverly under the city’s strong-mayor charter, which makes him responsible for running the city day to day. He oversees every department, appoints most department heads and board members, and builds the budget the City Council then votes on. A Beverly native who taught in local schools and served ten years as the city’s state representative before winning the corner office, Cahill first took office in January 2014 as the 34th mayor of Beverly. In November 2025, after voters approved a charter change lengthening the term, he won the first four-year mayoral term in the city’s history. Because Beverly hands real power to an elected mayor, when a city service works or fails the responsibility lands on this desk.
| Role | Mayor (chief executive) |
|---|---|
| In office | Since January 2014 |
| Term | Four-year term (began January 2026) |
| Office | Beverly City Hall, 191 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915 |
| Phone | 978-921-6000 |
| mayorcahill@beverlyma.gov | |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
What the Mayor Does
- Runs the departments. Police, fire, public services, health, parks, and the rest all answer to the Mayor, who appoints their leaders.
- Builds the budget. Each spring the Mayor proposes how the city will spend its money, then sends it to the Council.
- Signs or vetoes. When the Council passes an ordinance, the Mayor can sign it into law or veto it. A two-thirds Council vote can override.
- Sits on the schools. Under the charter the Mayor holds a seat on the School Committee, linking City Hall and the classroom.
The Administration
- Department heads are appointed by the Mayor and carry out policy, from plowing snow to inspecting restaurants.
- The City Council is the check: it must approve the budget and major appointments, and it can override a veto.
- Boards and commissions, most of them appointed by the Mayor, decide questions like zoning, licensing, and conservation.
Contact & Engage
- City Hall: 191 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915. Main line 978-921-6000.
- Mayor’s Office: reachable at 978-921-6000 or mayorcahill@beverlyma.gov, open weekdays 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Report a problem: potholes, missed trash, and other service requests go through the city’s online tools at beverlyma.gov.
- Show up: the Council meets the first and third Mondays, and the public is welcome.
Sources
Beverly government website (beverlyma.gov). Verified July 2026.
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