Cranston Mayor-Elect Hopkins Announces Key Appointments
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Cranston Mayor-Elect Kenneth Hopkins has announced the appointment of department heads and his administrative team. He takes office on January 4, 2021.
Hopkins said his transition team helped to screen candidate and develop “summary reports” for each of the functions in city government. “Through their hard work and timely commitment a review of all departmental functions, staffing and operations was completed,” said Hopkins.
“I want to thank the many individuals who helped me through this compressed timetable to get ready to take office,” said Hopkins. “I am prepared to become Mayor in January. I am excited about our city’s future and the administrative team that I have assembled.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHopkins said a steering committee led by Anthony C. Moretti, CPA his former campaign manager; former Mayor Michael A. Traficante; Dennis DeJesus, Executive Director of Rhode Island Special Olympics; Earl J. Croft III, retired Executive Director of the Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority; Robin Melfi-Coia, Administrator of the New England Labor Management Cooperative Trust and local attorney Robert D. Murray helped him interview approximately fifty five candidates over two and a half weeks for various positions and roles in his administration.
DeJesus and Croft both worked for Traficante when he served as mayor of Cranston in the 1980s and 1990s and Murray served as Chief of Staff to former Governor Ed DiPete.
Hopkins announced the following new personnel and department heads:
Director of Administration: Anthony C. Moretti, CPA
Mr. Moretti is a certified public accountant and is just completing service on the staff of the Rhode Island Auditor General. Previously, Moretti served as Internal Auditor to the Cranston City Council. He is a 1980 graduate of Providence College and has held senior financial, auditing and administrative management positions with several Rhode Island based and world-wide companies. Moretti served as campaign manager for the successful Hopkins mayoral campaign. “Anthony was invaluable to me during the campaign and transition period. Now he will do a great job as Director of Administration in carrying out my initiatives and policies with the various city departments,” Hopkins said. “Anthony’s financial and executive experience and understanding of government will be essential to me in the Mayor’s Office as we keep Cranston going on the right track.”
City Solicitor: Christopher Millea
Millea, a self-employed attorney, is a Providence College graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance (1994). He received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1997 from Roger Williams University School of Law. He is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association and is admitted to appear in all courts in Rhode Island including the United States District Court. Millea served as a Democrat State Representative of District 16 and was a close ally of Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello - who like Millea lost their reelection. While as an assistant solicitor for Cranston’s legal department, he has overseen criminal prosecutions for the police department. “I am excited that Chris Millea has agreed to come aboard to lead our legal department. His experience and knowledge of the law will help capably guide our staff of assistants and my administration,” said Hopkins.
Personnel Director: Daniel Parrillo
Parrillo first served as Personnel Director in Cranston in 2017 after a distinguished twenty five year career with the Johnston Police Department retiring as its Deputy Chief. He became Director Administration for Mayor Fung in 2018. Hopkins stated, “I have asked Dan to return to the Personnel Department to assist me with several management and organizational initiatives and to work with our collective bargaining groups and my important emphasis on diversity recruitment. His experience will be invaluable to me.”
Recreation Director: Raymond Tessaglia
Tessaglia joins the City of Cranston after a twenty six year career with the Providence Department of Recreation. He is a graduate of Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree and major in Recreational Education. He had an extensive coaching career in baseball and basketball at the collegiate level. “Ray Tessaglia shares my mission and priority to offer well-run recreational programs for our youth and excellent care of our playgrounds and facilities,” Hopkins said. “The department and our dedicated recreation employees will be in good hands moving forward with Ray’s leadership.”
Economic Development Director: Franklin Paulino
Mr. Paulino joins the Hopkins administration and offers a diverse background as a small business owner, account executive and former service representative with the Internal Revenue Service. He has a Master’s Degree in International Business from San Ignacio University in Miami, Florida. He is fluent in both English and Spanish. Hopkins stated, “I am excited about Franklin joining my team to lead my efforts in economic development. As a small business owner, he understands the day to day challenges many of our local business owners face. His background and enthusiastic people skills will help service our existing commercial and industrial base while recruiting new jobs to Cranston,” stated the Mayor-Elect.
Director of Senior Services: Stephen Craddock
Craddock joins the Department of Senior Services after a long and distinguished career in various senior management and customer service positions with Staples, Inc. He is an Army veteran and graduate of the University of Rhode Island. Hopkins said, “Steve’s organizational and management skills will help me renew and expand the programs and services to our most important elderly population. He understands that I want to make our enrichment center a busy, welcoming place that expands opportunities to serve Cranston seniors.”
Workforce Development: Sean W. Holley
Holley assumes supervision of Cranston’s Workforce Development Program in collaboration with the City of Providence. An attorney, he is a 1984 Providence College graduate with a degree in economics. Holley graduated from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law in 1987. He presently oversees a recreation center for the City of Providence while also serving as a professor at Providence College and Johnson & Wales University. At the outset of his career Holley worked in the sports and entertainment field. Holley currently serves as the President of the John Hope Settlement House in Providence as well as numerous other boards and commissions. “I appreciate Sean’s willingness to join me as we try connecting individuals with job skills and employment opportunities in the Providence/Cranston workforce area. His ties to the local community will benefit the individuals to be served and enhance our relationship with the City of Providence,” said Hopkins.
Director of Community Development (“CDBG”): Timothy G. Sanzi
Sanzi, a retired Major of the Rhode Island State Police, will bring his accomplished management experience and leadership skills to Cranston’s community development programs and services. He holds a Bachelor and Master’s degree in criminal justice from Roger Williams University. “I am pleased that Tim Sanzi is willing to join my administration,” said Hopkins. “He will bring a wealth of leadership experience to the city and he can help us maximize our opportunities for the neighborhoods and areas that qualify for CDBG funds.”
Director of Constituent Affairs (Mayor’s Office): Paula A. Smith
Smith will be staying on in the Mayor’s Office as the Director of Constituent Affairs. She previously served as confidential executive assistant to Mayor Allan Fung. Hopkins said, “I am delighted that Paula will be continuing her excellent work in the Mayor’s Office with a new and important assignment. Her breath of experience and knowledge of departmental functions will ensure that my administration delivers effective and timely responses to requests and inquiries from Cranston residents.”
Mayor-Elect Hopkins also announced that the following current department heads will continue with his administration:
Finance Director, Robert F. Strom (served since 2009)
Public Works Director, Kenneth R. Mason (served since 2012)
Police Chief, Michael J. Winquist (served since (2014)
Fire Chief, Stephen MacIntosh (served since 2019)
Director of Inspections, David V. Rodio (served since 2018)
Planning Director, Jason M. Pezzullo (served since 2018)
“After meeting with these department directors individually, I am delighted they have agreed to stay on as part of my administration,” said Hopkins. “Each one understands my priorities for constituent services, proper management of their areas of responsibilities and my vision for Cranston.” He emphasized that their experience and continuity of service will benefit all residents of Cranston.
Many of the department head nominees are subject to the advice and consent of the City Council. Hopkins stated, “I will be submitting my choices for department heads to the City Council upon taking office. I would ask the Finance Committee and council members to schedule a review and hearing of my new leadership team as soon as possible.”
Hopkins said, “I am pleased with the new core of individuals I am bringing into government to work with me and the excellent team of directors who I have asked to continue. Together we will all keep Cranston moving in the right direction.”
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