Town Government
Cohasset Town Departments
Finding the Right Department
Most of what residents need from the town runs through a department, not an elected official: paying a bill, pulling a permit, reporting a problem, registering to vote. Most of these department heads were appointed by the Town Manager under Cohasset’s Town Manager Act, which is why their names do not appear on a ballot and why the Town Manager is the person the Select Board holds responsible for all of them. The Town Clerk is the exception: that office is elected.
The directory below covers the departments residents contact most, with the head the town names on its own staff directory. For the full list, hours, and staff, visit the town’s Departments page or its Staff Directory. Town Hall is at 41 Highland Avenue.
Department Directory
| Town Clerk | Records, licenses, vital records, the town census, and elections. Town Clerk Elisabeth Legge, an elected office. 781-383-4100. |
|---|---|
| Public Works | Streets, water, snow plowing, and town property. Director of Public Works JR Frey. 781-383-4100 ext. 7800. |
| Health | Inspections, clinics, and public health complaints. Director of Public Health Joan Taverna, RN. 781-383-4100 ext. 5130. |
| Police | Public safety and non-emergency response. Police Chief William Quigley. 781-383-1055. |
| Fire | Fire suppression, prevention, and emergency response. Fire Chief John Dockray. 781-383-0616. |
| Elder Affairs | The senior center at Willcutt Commons, outreach, and programs for older residents. Director Danika Castle. 781-383-9112. |
| Paul Pratt Memorial Library | The town library at 35 Ripley Road, governed by elected Library Trustees. 781-383-1348. |
Emergencies are 911. Cohasset runs separate non-emergency lines: the Police at 781-383-1055 and the Fire Department at 781-383-0616.
Town departments carry out state and local law. See how Massachusetts government connects to your town.
MassCivics last checked this page on October 14, 2026.
Sources
- Town records: Town of Cohasset, Staff Directory, as of October 2026.
- Town Clerk records: Town of Cohasset, Annual Town Election, May 9, 2026, Official Results, as of May 9, 2026.
- Town Clerk records: Town of Cohasset, Town Clerk, as of February 23, 2026.
- Community organizations: Paul Pratt Memorial Library, Paul Pratt Memorial Library, as of October 2026.