JOHNSTON — A Town Council proposal to expand the governing board of the Johnston Housing Authority from five members to seven has hit a roadblock in the General Assembly, where a key lawmaker says it appears the move is meant to “target someone” in a political squabble.

Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr., D-Smithfield, who heads the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government, on Thursday, June 25, refused to release the enabling legislation for a floor vote. The bill was introduced by Rep. Deborah Fellela, a Johnston Democrat — whose husband, Henry, swore at Tassoni after the chairman shelved her legislation.

“It’s quite obvious after what I went through on Thursday that there’s a vendetta in Johnston and I’m not going to be part of it,” said Tassoni. He declined to say who might be the “target’ of the legislation.

Representative Fellela and Town Council President Robert V. Russo say they simply want greater participation on all local boards and commissions.

“They’re trying to hold it up in the Senate for political reasons,” Russo said. “I don’t see any credible rational reason to object to it besides politics… I don’t know why someone would not want more members, more eyes and ears on their board unless they have something to hide.”

Some Rhode Island communities have seven-member housing authority boards, but the sixth and seventh members of these boards are residents of public housing, Tassoni said. He said he raised that point with Johnston officials after the June 25 committee meeting but that they were unwilling to add that stipulation to their legislation.

The Johnston Housing Authority, created by an act of the legislature, oversees 160 rental properties and serves more than 700 people. About 2,000 people are on a waiting list for affordable apartments, and the agency’s management of the list has been a focus of political controversy in the past.

The Housing Authority’s executive director, David aRusso, said the Town Council did not consult him before requesting the legislation on June 23 and he suggested the council was trying gain more power over the agency.

Said Russo: “Why do we have to consult him? If they’re doing a good job, they’ll do a better job with more people.”

aRusso, asked if he might be the “target” mentioned by legislator Tassoni, said he didn’t know. He said he could “only surmise” that the council wants more say over the waiting list.

aRusso is the chairman of the Democratic Town Committee and the president of an umbrella organization of Rhode Island’s local committees. He said his current, five-year contract as executive director of the housing agency expires in September but that it carries a provision for “automatic renewal.”

mreynold@projo.com