Housing Authority Gets New Commissioner

In a brief ceremony this morning at , Mayor Joseph M. Polisena formally appointed Martha Church to the position of Resident Commissioner for the .

Church succeeds longtime commissioner Mary T. Grant, whose term recently expired.

"This is a bittersweet day," JHA Executive Director David M. aRusso said in a statement, noting the outgoing Grant's award of a Thomas Anton Award for Exemplary Service to Public Housing by the Public Housing Authority of Rhode Island three years ago. “Mary served the needs of her fellow residents with zeal and energy through her term on the board, [and] Martha will be a great resource to her fellow commissioners and a strong voice for the 728 Johnston residents that receive housing assistance from the authority.”

In the press release from the JHA announcing the appointment, Church is quoted as saying: “I know I have very big shoes to fill, but I look forward to bringing a new and fresh voice to all of the residents that the JHA serves."