The New England Regional Council of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials opened their mid-winter conference yesterday at the Crowne Plaza. J. William Quirk, chairman of the Warwick Housing Authority is the first housing commissioner to serve as president of a regional council. Quirk, with the help of his wife, Deborah, planned the conference for Warwick, which has brought together more than 100 regional housing officials for two days of seminars and workshops. With Quirk at left are: Preston Prince of the Fresno, Calif. Housing Authority and president of the national association, Deborah Quirk, and Steve Merritt, national senior vice president from the Norwood, Mass. Housing Authority.