Ric Cengeri Credit: Courtesy

After 12 years at Vermont Public Radio, producer and guest host Ric Cengeri was fired on Thursday, he told Seven Days.

Cengeri was probably best known to public radio listeners as host of “VPR Café,” a weekly segment focused on food and agriculture that was axed in July. His primary job was producing the station’s daily public affairs program, “Vermont Edition”; he also occasionally guest-hosted it.

According to Cengeri, VPR president and chief executive officer Scott Finn intercepted him in the station’s Colchester parking lot Thursday as Cengeri was returning from vacation. Finn led him into a conference room, terminated him and did not allow him to clean out his desk, Cengeri said.

“It was a surprise. It was definitely a surprise,” he said. “There was no warning that there was anything amiss.”

Cengeri declined to provide the explanation Finn gave him, saying, “I’ll let them explain.” Reached Friday, Finn said, “We respect our employees’ privacy, so we don’t talk about personnel matters in the media.”

Former “Vermont Edition” managing producer Sam Gale Rosen recently left the program for another position at VPR, which means that two of three producer positions are now vacant. But according to Finn, the station remains committed to the show, calling it “an extremely key part of VPR and its service to the community.”

Cengeri, who previously worked in public relations, marketing and as a morning host at the Point FM, said he doesn’t know what’s next for him. “I’m almost 60 years old, so at this point, it’s hard to figure out what you do with your life,” he said.

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One thing that won’t change for Cengeri is his role as the namesake of and mascot for Citizen Cider’s popular ginger-infused beverage, the Dirty Mayor.

“I’m still the mayor,” Cengeri said. “I’m still the Dirty Mayor.”

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Paul Heintz was part of the Seven Days news team from 2012 to 2020. He served as political editor and wrote the "Fair Game" political column before becoming a staff writer.

22 replies on “Media Note: VPR Fires ‘Vermont Edition’ Producer Ric Cengeri”

  5. Never liked VPR’s I’m so cool pretense. Never had nor will give a penny in donations. I’ll listen to public radio out of New York state.

  6. I think we all know the real story: Wertlieb got mad when Cengeri called him “The Wordy Mayor”. Wertlieb threw a bagel at him and Cengeri taunted him for his small “sustaining membership” amount which he called “a shortcoming”. fists flew and it got reported that Cengeri dealt it, though word on the street is that Wertlieb smelt it.

  7. One more reason why I prefer WAMC Public Radio 91.9 out of Plattsburgh and 104.9 out of Ticonderoga, and North Country Public Radio 88.1 out of Peru and 90.5 out of Bristol (VT).

    Seems like lots of turmoil at VPR and VPT in recent years. We prefer TV from the other side of the lake as well, WCFE Plattsburgh.

  8. I have listened to WAMC Northeast public radio out of Albany, NY for years. I invite anyone to give it a try, 91.9 fm.

  9. Ive been a member of WAMC for years. Much better programming and variety. VPR is Vermont Boring Radio.

  11. I do think there is a certain aroma in the air.
    Given what appears an exodus at VT Edition.

    Something along the lines of the observation by Parallx.
    We love Mitch, but…

    I think we all know the real story: Wertlieb got mad when Cengeri called him “The Wordy Mayor”. Wertlieb threw a bagel at him and Cengeri taunted him for his small “sustaining membership” amount which he called “a shortcoming”. fists flew and it got reported that Cengeri dealt it, though word on the street is that Wertlieb smelt it.

  12. At least when VPR fired me I got to work half the day first. I see by intercepting Ric in the parking lot theyve upped their termination game.

  14. Rich ard, I think you’re confusing VPR with Vermont PBS. The link you shared is on the VPR site, but it’s describing the sale of Vermont PBS’ FCC broadcasting licenses.

  15. Couldn’t clean out his desk?
    As a 40 plus year radio pro I have say that sounds like Clear Channel, not Public Radio.
    Unhappy listeners should vote with their wallets. VPR is awash in money. They don’t actually need yours.

  16. I stopped donating to VPR when they did the dirty to Peter Biello a few years ago. Peter is now doing fine as the All Things Considered host at NHPR, where he has stories bought by the big boys at NPR. A definite loss to VPR and losing the popular Dirty Mayor will not enhance VPR’s local reputation. I don’t even listen to them anymore, though a friend told me they’re still using a promo I recorded for Peter several years ago.

  17. Couldn’t clean out his desk…does that sound odd to you? Did they ever give him his stuff?
    I’ve been fired in that manner – everything confidential – in the months to follow, people walk up and say “Why did you quit?” You answer, ” I didn’t quit, I was fired.”
    VPR has been going downhill a long time. The DJ is a computer (from Clearchannel) and the news is not what I would call local. In 2016 they had Nothing good to say about Bernie – in fact they made fun of his candidacy. That’s when they lost their credibility with me. Prairie Home Companion – corny as it was at times, I miss it.
    Is VPR still doing marathons, asking for us to sustain them? Let their corporate owners sustain them.

  18. We sure love to hate our local institutions, don’t we! I feel bad for Ric, and I agree that, by failing to give info, everyone assumes the worst. But VPR, along with 7 Days and Digger, give us a far more robust picture of what’s happening across the state than most places I have lived. I feel lucky that we actually have local news and analysis through these three institutions. And it’s too bad that the money story about VPT has gotten confused with VPR’s finances; I don’t think VPR is rolling in dough. I would change many things about their programming, but I am grateful VPR exists and does much good.

  19. Wow – intercepted in the parking lot – not even allowed to go to his own office or clean out his desk – treated like a criminal. Funny how employers expect your unconditional loyalty – right up to the moment they unceremoniously dump you. This doesn’t even pass the straight face test of employment protocol.

  20. I don’t love to hate my local institutions, I actually think they’ve lost their edge, and they don’t say what the old VPR would say about some things.
    Who knows.

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