Mandarelli named Planning Board's newest alternate

Stephen Mandarelli, a lifelong Johnston resident and veteran office manager at Northeast Auto Body, became the newest alternate member of the town’s Planning Board on Tuesday.

Mandarelli, 41, took the oath of office Tuesday morning inside Mayor Joseph Polisena’s executive chamber with Vincent P. Baccari Jr., Johnston’s town clerk, standing in as the witness. Mandarelli and his wife, Alicia, have two children, Gianni and Jaxon.

“We’re excited to have Stephen on the Planning Board,” Polisena said while offering Mandarelli the traditional congratulatory and welcome-aboard handshake. “He meets every requirement for this important position, most especially that he’s pro-business.”

“I’m honored and also excited about this appointment,” said Mandarelli, a graduate of Johnston High School who attended the Community College of Rhode Island. “I want to thank Mayor Polisena for having confidence in me to serve on this very, very important body of town government.”

Mandarelli, who will be listed as an alternate on the seven-member commission until one member serves out his or her term or resigns, went on: “Johnston is on the move. I’m really looking forward to helping Mayor Polisena continue his great economic development of the town and helping bring new businesses into Johnston.”

In order to become a member of the Johnston Planning Board, all members must be first recommended by one of the five Town Council members. First-term Councilman Joseph Polisena Jr. nominated Mandarelli, who lives in District 3.

“I try to have equal representation on the Planning Board from each of our five districts in town,” the mayor said.

The Johnston Planning Board – which includes members Christine Cunneen, George A. Lazzareschi Jr., John Laurito, Peggy Passarelli, Joseph Lembo, Beverly Williams and Nicole Pope – now has its first alternate in Mandarelli, who has been at Northeast Auto Body for 15 years.

This is the first such position Mandarelli has held in Johnston.

“I’m excited to be part of this group,” he said. “There’s a lot of interesting and exciting things happening on our great town.”