CRANSTON, R.I. — NBC 10 is reporting that Cranston's director of senior services stepped down last week after she had a male bus driver for the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center masquerade as a woman to improve visuals at a press conference.

Sue Stenhouse, the former director of senior services for Mayor Allan W. Fung, resigned Friday, the mayor's office confirmed.

The controversy began at a press conference last week where Fung and Stenhouse presented a “student snow shoveling brigade.” The new initiative would connect high school students with the city’s low-income and elderly residents during snowstorms. For community service credits, the teenagers would help clear driveways and sidewalks.

Flanked by Fung, and what seemed to be a local elderly woman, wearing a "Cranston Senior Home Resident" name tag, Stenhouse discussed the new program during a press conference at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center.

But, NBC10 reports that it was not a senior home resident, but a bus driver for the facility in disguise.

The man was wearing a dress, earrings, lipstick, and a wig, according to the report.

Both Fung and Stenhouse declined to comment on the allegations, and the circumstances of her departure.

Carlos Lopez Estrada, chief of staff for the mayor, on Thursday told The Journal he could not comment on the specifics of Stenhouse's resignation because it is a personnel issue. When asked if he could confirm if the bus driver had been disguised as a woman for the media event, he said, “I really can’t.”

At the senior center Thursday morning, a group of men laughed and passed around a cell phone photo of the person in question.

Mike Fargnoli, 66, whose father regularly visits the center, said he immediately recognized the person as a Trans Van bus driver. The Trans Van is a service that transports seniors to and from the center.

“We all thought it was a joke,” Fargnoli said. “I don’t know what was going on. He’s a very nice guy.”

Jerry Carnevale, 85, said he was sad to see Stenhouse go. She has implemented many popular programs during her tenure at the center, such as yoga, tai chi, and chair exercise classes. She also added pool tables, he said.

“She made this a much better, safer place to be,” he said. “She did her job well and showed nothing but kindness for me.”

Lopez Estrada said the city would not make any additional comments on the situation.

Stenhouse, 56, of Warwick, is a former Republican member of the Warwick City Council and a current member of the Warwick Planning Board. She ran, unsuccessfully, for Rhode Island secretary of state in 2006 and was an aide to Donald L. Carcieri when he was governor.

Stenhouse began work in Cranston in December 2013 and was paid an annual salary of approximately $55,000.

A spokesman for the mayor’s office previously said Stenhouse's replacement would be selected soon.

A parody Twitter account with the handle @eldercranston features a photo of the individual in question. In a tweet the elder said, “it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

-- This report was updated at 9:58 a.m. and 12:54 p.m.