Pols mingle at Mayor's networking luncheon

By Pete Fontaine
Posted 4/27/17

It was good old-fashioned hospitality - hosted by Mayor Joseph Polisena - at its very best Monday inside the lower level of the Municipal Courthouse. For starters, the guest list included such notables as Rhode Island's U.S. Congressman

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Pols mingle at Mayor's networking luncheon

Posted

It was good old-fashioned hospitality – hosted by Mayor Joseph Polisena – at its very best Monday inside the lower level of the Municipal Courthouse.

For starters, the guest list included such notables as Rhode Island’s U.S. Congressman James Langevin and key staffers from the offices of U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Jack Reed.

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and House Majority Leader Joseph Shekarchi spent time meeting and talking with many of the 80 or so professionals who accepted Polisena’s invitation to the event.

A total of five mayors, along with two town managers and even a City Councilman from nearby Taunton, Mass. took in the special event.

The state’s two top-ranking sheriffs, former police officials and Johnston residents David DeCesare and Paul Martellini as well as Assistant School Superintendent Dr. Arthur-Paul Petrosinelli, were also there.

“This is like a who’s who event,” John M. McCaul, the City Councilor from Taunton, who said he was amazed – and excited – to meet so many local officials like Johnston Town Councilmen Richard DelFino III and Robert Russo. “This (luncheon) is a great opportunity to make new contacts.”

McCaul, who was perhaps more impressed with Polisena’s hospitality and the friendliness of nearly 80 professionals, chatted with Cranston Mayor Allan Fung who sat alongside Rhode Island Lt. Governor Daniel McKee enjoying the day’s fare that was prepared by noted chef and DPW staffer Peter DelPonte.

Although Monday’s special luncheon was a throwback to the Dem’s Diner days that Polisena recently held inside the Johnston Democratic Town Committee headquarters at 1500 Place on Atwood Avenue, the event was not based on any particular political affiliation.

“This is strictly a networking luncheon and get-together,” Polisena emphasized while greeting Mike Knipper, the Head of Property-Executive Vice President of Citizens Financial Group and Jim Cunha, the Town Manager in Barrington. “With so much going on in our individual worlds, this is a great way to share ideas and learn about what other cities and towns are doing.”

For example, there were two instances that Polisena made reference to. One was when Doug Jeffrey, Polisena’s Chief of Staff, chatted with Carlos Lopez Estrada, his counterpart in Cranston Mayor Allan Fung’s office.

Likewise, one of the Ocean State’s most popular priests – Rev. Robert L. Marciano of St. Kevin Roman Catholic Church in Warwick – enjoyed chatting with Polisena, his Fire Chief Tim McLaughlin and counterpart Jim McLaughlin of the WFD.

The City of Warwick, in fact, was well-represented with Rev. Marciano, Shekarchi, McLaughlin and Rob Farrell, who manages Meadowbrook Lanes on Warwick Avenue who said “the food is great and the camaraderie is event better.”

Farrell, who doubles as chairman of the Warwick Democratic City, broke bread with his Johnston counterpart Richard Delfino Jr., who along with DPW Director Arnie Vecchione is usually part of the kitchen crew that cooks foods like Monday’s menu that included salad – with a special dressing – baked chicken breast, sausage, peppers and mushrooms and a variety of pizza.

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