Both Johnston mayors thanked the night’s Transition Team

By PETE FONTAINE

Posted 1/17/23

There was a classic case of what re-elected Johnston Town Council President Robert V. Russo called “Confidence in our Community” during Monday night’s inauguration of Mayor Joseph …

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Both Johnston mayors thanked the night’s Transition Team

SOCIAL SERVERS: Among the many people who helped make Monday Night’s Mayoral Inauguration a success was Brittany Rice, Shannon Hamm-Lombardi, Emma DeSalvo from the Pete Matteo’s Social Kitchen and served guests delicious foods prepared by Chef Jamie Beaulieu.

Sun Rise photo by Pete Fontaine

WHO’S WHO: Mayors from all over the state were on-hand Monday night to show support for Johnston’s new Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. They joined Rhode Island’s two senators and a long list of Ocean State politicians.

Sun Rise photo by Pete Fontaine

NEW MAYOR: Joseph Polisena Jr. took the oath of office on the evening of Monday, Jan. 9, becoming Johnston’s new mayor.

Sun Rise photo by Rory Schuler

Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2023 9:57 am

By PETE FONTAINE

There was a classic case of what re-elected Johnston Town Council President Robert V. Russo called “Confidence in our Community” during Monday night’s inauguration of Mayor Joseph Michael Polisena Jr.

That trait, Russo emphasized while he listed the town’s economic expansions under the leadership of outgoing Mayor Joseph Polisena, shows how the town’s elected officials are working together for Johnston. None of this could have been possible without people and companies “having confidence in our community,” he said.

Which may explain why people like Gary Salzillo, who owns and operates Northeast Auto Body and has helped countless sports groups in town, said as he took in Monday night’s special ceremony: “I’ve never – ever – seen so many people in this auditorium.”

A standing room-only crowd packed into every seat and nook-and cranny of the Johnston High School Auditorium, which was continuously filled with applause, as well as standing ovations. The entire event’s planning began many months ago with the formation of the Mayoral Transition Team.

“We had some curve balls along the way,” Polisena Jr. offered. “But everything worked. I want to thank everyone for their help leading up to tonight.”

The Mayoral Transition Team was led, in part, by now retired and decorated Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini and included Polisena Jr., Stephen Mandarelli, Taylor A. Russo, Douglas Jeffrey and Sean J. Clough.

Likewise, the Inaugural Committee was made up of Bethany Alviano, Agnes Mancini, Gini Martellini and Edith Restrepo, and received countless compliments from a number of the night’s attendees.

Now former Mayor Joseph M. Polisena and his wife Lucy, the parents of the new mayor, invited everyone to a food and fun-filled reception. They issued countless words of gratitude, and directed their thanks toward individuals like Fire Chief Robert Bradley Jr. of the Mansfield Fire Department, and included JSD Facilities Director Jerri Cantone and her staff, John Rick of Atwood Florist, JPD Major Thomas Dolan and the Johnston Police Explorers, the Ron Lamoureux directed JHS band, Matt Gingras-led Treble Choir, The Social Kitchen Catering, and the JFD and JPD Color Guards.