Teamwork is theme as mayor cheers his ‘Super Bowl Council'

By Pete Fontaine
Posted 1/12/17

By PETE FONTAINE Teamwork. That word surfaced time and again during Monday night's inaugural ceremony that attracted a standing room only crowd inside the Johnston Municipal Court House. Perhaps Mayor Joseph Polisena, who heaped words of praise upon

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Teamwork is theme as mayor cheers his ‘Super Bowl Council'

Posted

 Teamwork.

That word surfaced time and again during Monday night’s inaugural ceremony that attracted a standing room only crowd inside the Johnston Municipal Court House.

Perhaps Mayor Joseph Polisena, who heaped words of praise upon members of his administration that has in the past decade taken Johnston from “the worst economic condition since the Depression into a town with unlimited growth and economic development,” set the tone early during his official greeting.

“I am extremely lucky to have what I have often referred to as a Super Bowl Council,” Polisena began. “You need to know that the members of this council work at their positions not just meeting once a month to conduct town business.”

Polisena told an attentive audience that his administration – and the Town Council – will continue working in unison during the 2017-2018 to keep Johnston moving forward.

After Monday night’s official swearing in was complete, the Town Council members expressed their thoughts and goals to keep that system working and enhance the theory that Johnston is always open to new business and a proud community that keeps moving forward.

Richard DelFino III, who began his second term Monday night, said, “It’s an honor and privilege to represent the residents of District 1. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in government to provide affordable and effective municipal services, attract businesses and invest in infrastructure and education and support recreation.”

A graduate of Providence College who works in the Department of Administration for the State of Rhode Island and a lifelong Johnston resident, DelFino takes great pride in District I and pledged to improve the quality of life and make Johnston a great place to raise our families.”

Anthony A. Verardo, who Monday began his third term, said, “With a new term and new year underway, I look forward to the continuous growth and prosperity that we have come accustomed to in Johnston. Under Mayor Polisena we have seen a proactive administration dedicated to put the Town first, most recently with the development of our new athletic complex and construction of the Citizens Bank campus.”

The soft-spoken District 2 councilman, who moved into the president’s chair Monday night, continued, “As a member of the Town Council, it is my hope that we will continue to expand the tax base by bringing in new business while simultaneously working for the benefit of all citizens. I am confident that all members of our community, elected and citizens alike, will work together to continue to keep the town moving forward.”

David J. Santilli, the veteran District 3 Town Councilman, said, “I think this council will be very aggressive. Everyone always has different ideas, but we will work as a unit. Teamwork is important as we undertake a number of different programs.”

Santilli said he is excited about his election as Town Council vice president and hopes to work on a number of promising projects that uphold Johnston’s reputation of having an open door policy for new business. He said he also plans on exploring the issue of medical marijuana, its ins and outs now that Massachusetts has adopted such a program.

Robert V. Russo, a prominent attorney and elder statesman on the Town Council who represents District 4, said, “Going forward, we have the New Recreation Building that should be opening in the spring as well as the Citizens Bank Project. There are a few economic proposals in the air that if they come to fruition will greatly benefit the town.”

Russo, who has spent the past 16 years in office, added, “I hope for continued stability in the town so that we can remain favorable to outside businesses seeking to create or expand their businesses in our town as well as people looking to move to Johnston.”

He also emphasized that “we need to look into expanding our water and sewer infrastructure to increase the quality of life for our residents. Finally, under the stewardship of Dr. Bernard DiLullo, I would like to see the school update its facilities and look into the feasibility of constructing a centralized elementary school similar to the Early Childhood Center concept so that services can be streamlined and students can have a state-of-the-art facility.”

Robert J. Civetti is the newcomer to the veterans Johnston Town Council. A certified public accountant, he comes armed with what Polisena called “unlimited experience in finance and will be a great addition to our leadership team.”

Civetti, who will represent District 5, said, “Over the next two years I hope the Town Council can continue to work with the administration and the School Committee to ensure that the residents of Johnston receive the best services at an affordable tax rate. In order to achieve this we need to continue the economic development so that we can stabilize the taxes assessed to our residents. We need to make sure that the town continues to offer tax breaks for the elderly so that they can remain in their homes during retirement; and continue to offer the Homestead Exemption to property owners in the town who reside in their properties. In addition, we need to make sure that the School Committee is provided with the resources they need so that our children can receive an education that is second to none. The children are the future.”

Civetti, who has long been active in local sports programs, continued, “I personally want to work with the administration and fellow council members to try and seek some relief and resolution to the legacy costs [town administered pension plans and other post-employment benefits], which plague the town. Unfortunately, the current taxpayers and elected officials have to deal with the unfunded employee benefits that were promised to town employees through collective bargaining agreements entered into a decade ago. We need to work with the collective bargaining unit and retirees to seek resolution and relief to these unfunded liabilities.”

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