RIPTA board accepts Avedisian’s resignation, CFO steps in as CEO

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority board accepted Scott Avedisian’s resignation on Tuesday.

All agreed on the terms of separation, which included a nearly $68,000 payment to Avedisian, and RIPTA CFO Chris Durand will serve as the temporary CEO.

Avedisian submitted his letter of resignation to the RIPTA board ahead of its special meeting last Thursday.

The former Warwick mayor pled not guilty to an alleged hit and run at the McDonald’s on Post Road back in March and is set to appear back in court later in April.

With Avedisian now gone, there was a solid consensus to put Durand in charge.

“My recommendation would be similar to what we are hearing from the citizens today,” said RIDOT director and RIPTA chairman Peter Alviti. “The CFO of the organization really is key in that, that person has direct knowledge of just about all aspects of the organization.”

In terms of the separation agreement, Avedisian was not utilizing RIPTA’s healthcare plan.

Therefore, he never got benefits and will not get any now either as he departs the agency.

Alviti explained that whatever pension was accrued during Avedisian’s tenure is what he will receive.

Board members shared their thoughts on the CEO’s departure.

“Most importantly, I think Scott knew that continuing on was not in the best interest of the one million riders a month who use RIPTA and rely on RIPTA as an essential and necessary thing for them in their lives,” said RIPTA board of directors member Normand Benoi.

As for the replacement, advocates have a few things in mind.

“It is important for us to have a transit rider on the search team for a new CEO,” said Patricia Raub, co-chair of Rhode Island Transit Riders. “And I think if we have a vested interest in the person who is coming in, we are more likely to work with them productively.”