EAST PROVIDENCE — East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva announced earlier this week two hire to key positions in his administration as Sarah K. Frew becomes the city’s new tax assessor and Laura Jones takes over as director of senior services.

Ms. Frew, who will work under the direction of the city’s finance director, will oversee the planning and directing of assessment programs including appraisal of real and personal property and preparation of an assessment roll and tax toll.

In addition, Ms. Frew will be responsible for the preparation and administration of the division’s budget and forecasts of tax revenue during city’s budget process. Ms. Frew will also manage the Assessment Division staff including assistant assessors and clerical employees. She takes over the position from long-time appointee Steven Hazard, who left the post in recent months.

“Ms. Frew, who has more than 17 years of experience in revaluation management and assessment experience, is returning to the city of East Providence’s Assessment Division after having worked 10 years in the division,” Mr. DaSilva said. “We are thrilled to have someone with her knowledge, experience and dedication back on the payroll.”

Prior to joining the city of East Providence, Ms. Frew was a tax assessor with the Town of North Smithfield where she developed tax rates that applied to all property classes, worked directly with the finance director and town administrator on the town’s budget process and implemented policies and procedures for the department and staff.

From 2007-2017, Ms. Frew worked as an appraisal technician with the city of East Providence where she was responsible for processing and maintaining assessment records on Computerized Assisted Mass Appraisal System (CAMA) and tax administration software. During that time, Ms. Frew also assisted with the preparation of the motor vehicle excise tax roll and the analysis of data pertaining to valuation of personal property and real property.

Before joining the city of East Providence the first time, Ms. Frew was an office manager and CAMA support technician with Northeast Revaluation, located in Warwick. Ms. Frew is a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers. She earned her high school diplomat at Johnston High School.

Ms. Jones, who will work under the direction of the city’s recreation director, will oversee all programs, services and activities pertaining to the East Providence Senior Center.Ms. Jones will also be responsible for overseeing the Senior Center facility, managing the Senior Center staff and volunteers and coordinating the multiple Senior Center programs.

Rob Rock, current senior center director who announced his retirement this summer, will remain in his current role during a period of transition.

“Ms. Jones, who has more than 15 years in human services roles, has extensive knowledge and experience in several health and human services areas,” Mr. DaSilva said. “She has big shoes to fill, but as I’ve said in the past, strong leaders require strong successors and I am confident that Ms. Jones has what it takes to advance the center.”

Prior to coming to East Providence, Ms. Jones held a number of positions with the Rhode Island Parent Information Network Inc. (RIPIN), where some of her key functions included providing oversight on programs on everything from funding and grant writing to training and skill building.

Ms. Jones was director of Health Initiatives at RIPIN from 2015 until just recently when she left her post at RIPIN to join the city of East Providence. Prior to being named director, she held several other titles including director of health and human services programs, resource specialist for the Office of Special Health Care Needs and medical home program supervisor for the Pediatric Practice Enhancement Project.

Ms. Jones is a member of many organizations including the Family Voices Leadership Team, Community Health Workers of Rhode Island Steering Committee and Chronic Disease Stakeholder Team, to name a few. She earned her Bachelor of Sciences in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Rhode Island and has additional training as a certified community health worker.