Rhode Island

Avedisian to receive $68K severance in termination agreement with RIPTA • Rhode Island Current

Published

2 years ago

April 16, 2024

Avedisian to receive K severance in termination agreement with RIPTA • Rhode Island Current

PROVIDENCE — Scott Avedisian’s six-year tenure as the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s (RIPTA) CEO officially ended Tuesday as the agency’s Board of Directors voted 7-0 to accept his resignation and termination agreement.

Board members Heather Schey and Marcy Reyes were not present at Tuesday’s special meeting.

The deal includes $67,823 in severance — about a third of which includes compensation for unused sick and vacation leave. Payments will be made in weekly installments of $5,217 beginning on April 25, and will continue through mid-July.

Avedisian is not eligible to collect a RIPTA pension, agency spokesperson Cristy Raposo Perry said in an email Tuesday afternoon. The agreement also includes a clause prohibiting Avedisian and RIPTA from making any disparaging comments about each other.

“Given all the facts surrounding this and the service he provided, and the contract, I think it’s a fair settlement,” Board Chairman Peter Alviti Jr. told reporters after the meeting.

Avedisian, who was not present at Tuesday’s meeting, submitted his letter of resignation to Gov. Dan McKee on April 11 — just eight days after he pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of a fender bender at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Warwick.

RIPTA CEO Avedisian resigns following hit-and-run charge

Avedisian allegedly smashed his RIPTA-issued SUV into the 2010 Mercedes in front of him, causing the Mercedes to hit the 2013 Toyota Camry in front of it. No injuries were reported, but both drivers told Warwick police they wanted to press charges.

Alviti said this alleged incident likely won’t impact any of RIPTA’s policies surrounding the use of agency-issued vehicles.

“I think agency vehicles are necessary,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll let any one occurrence determine what the future of the policy is.”

Avedisian is scheduled to appear in Kent County District Court for a pretrial hearing Thursday, April 25 — the same day severance payments begin. In his letter of resignation submitted April 11, Avedisian wrote,“I regret that the good work of the employees is being detracted by my actions.”

“It is sad and troubling that Scott’s employment ends this way,” Board Member Normand Benoit said after Tuesday’s vote.

But Benoit said he appreciated that Avedisian stepped down not long after the controversy began instead of trying to “drag things out.”

“Scott took the high road, to his credit,” he said.

CFO named interim CEO

After approving Avedisian’s exit package, RIPTA board unanimously agreed to elevate Chief Financial Officer Christopher Durand to be the bus agency’s interim leader for the foreseeable future. Durand, who has served in his current position since July 2021, appeared briefly in the back of the room during Tuesday’s meeting, Raposo Perry said.

Alviti said Durand has “got good knowledge” to take over the agency and has been “very responsive to the board members.”

“The CFO of the organization really is key in that person has direct knowledge of just about all aspects of the organization,” Alviti said.

Durand’s appointment also came at the recommendation of the advocacy group RI Transit Riders. No timeline was set on how long Durand will serve as interim leader.

“The board will confer with all parties — the legislature and the governor on what form and process will ensue,” Alviti said.

As the RIPTA searches for a permanent leader, transit advocates are calling on the board to make sure the CEO is someone with a mass transit background. Before his appointment in 2018 by then-Gov. Gina Raymond, Avedisian served nearly two decades as the Republican mayor of Warwick.

“The next CEO needs to maintain service and continue to make progress on the initiatives to improve and expand operations that are currently underway,” RI Transit Riders Co-Chairs Amy Glidden and Patricia Raub said in a statement Wednesday.

The group also called on RIPTA’s Board of Directors to include a transit advocate as a public member on the CEO search committee.

Daria Phoebe Brashear, a transit rider from Cranston, had one request for board members as they embark on a search for a permanent leader: All applicants must ride the bus from Aquidneck Island to their interview in Providence.

“So they may speak with the immediate benefit of experience with RIPTA service,” she told the board during public comment. “And further, that if they miss the interview, they be removed from consideration.”

Randall Rose, a member of the Kennedy Plaza Resilience Coalition, told Rhode Island Current he simply wants to see a leader who will stick to RIPTA’s mission of providing public transit.

“People need to have mobility for where they need to go,” he said.

Alviti told reporters criteria for the search process will be set as the search continues, but he did not rule out looking internally for a permanent CEO.

“We’ve got a great bench here at RIPTA of highly competent professional, smart, energetic folks who want to move this agency into the future in a very positive way,” he said. “I really look forward to the future of the agency.”

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz

Published

4 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island lawmakers opened the 2026 legislative session this week with a focus on health care affordability, housing costs and economic stability, as leaders in both chambers warned of uncertainty tied to federal budget changes.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi outlined House priorities centered on expanding access to health care while lowering costs, calling it the chamber’s top agenda item for the year. He also said lawmakers will continue addressing housing shortages and rising home energy costs, emphasizing the need for community input as policy decisions move forward.

In the Senate, President Valarie J. Lawson convened the chamber by urging bipartisan cooperation and announcing plans to introduce legislation supporting education, small businesses and the state’s health care system. Stabilizing hospitals and strengthening the primary care workforce were identified as key goals.

Both chambers paused to honor victims of the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University, passing resolutions recognizing the victims and commending first responders. Lawmakers also observed a moment of silence.

New legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara would require the Department of Education to adopt a zero-tolerance hazing policy in partnership with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, mandating clear and consistent discipline statewide.

Meanwhile, Reps. David Morales and Jennifer Stewart called on Gov. Dan McKee to fully fund public libraries in the upcoming state budget.

Speaker Shekarchi also announced several committee leadership changes, appointing Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee as chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee and Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith as chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee.

The week also marked the first Senate session for Sen. Stefano V. Famiglietti, who received committee assignments following his election to fill a vacant seat.

Legislative leaders capped the week by joining faith leaders at the 18th annual Rhode Island Interfaith Poverty Vigil at the State House, calling attention to legislation aimed at reducing poverty statewide.

Temporary erosion protection systems installed at Second Beach in Middletown, Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Lucky For Life, Numbers Midday winning numbers for Jan. 8, 2026

Published

16 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

05-12-13-39-48, Lucky Ball: 13

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

Midday: 9-9-1-3

Evening: 0-9-6-6

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 8 drawing

01-07-12-30-35, Extra: 26

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

State workers’ unions complain of widespread problems with new payroll system

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

State workers’ unions complain of widespread problems with new payroll system

Union leaders for Rhode Island state employees are publicly airing frustrations with the state’s new payroll system following weeks of complaints, claiming many state workers have had problems receiving their full pay.

Rhode Island Council 94, the largest state workers’ union with more than 4,500 members, and the union representing correctional officers issued press releases Thursday calling on the state to fix the system that rolled out in early December.

The new system is operated by Workday, a company that provides services to more than 10,000 companies and organizations, including other states.

“Simply put, Workday is not working,” Council 94 President Michael McDonald wrote in a statement.

The unions claim problems for state employees include missing pay, partial pay, missing overtime pay, incorrect or no holiday pay, and benefits deductions not sent to accounts.

Council 94 says the state has worked on some solutions, but complaints and calls to a hotline mount.

“The state, in meeting after meeting, urges patience. Our members mortgage payments, grocery bills, childcare, fuel costs and other expenses do not pause for payroll processing errors. The payroll errors have touched every state agency,” Council 94 State Vice President John Monse stated.

The unions say they’ve brought the complaints to state officials, including Gov. Dan McKee.

“While some prior errors were corrected, the continued recurrence demonstrates a systemic payroll breakdown, not isolated mistakes,” the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers wrote in its statement.

NBC 10 News messaged the governor’s office and the Department of Administration before noon Thursday.

The governor’s office later referred comment to Administration, which has not responded to NBC 10’s messages.

The unions are calling for legislative oversight hearings into the matter and are considering legal action.

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