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Town of Rye appoints event lead for EcoFest, accepts memorial gift to underwrite inaugural festival
Summary
The council approved a resolution to appoint Brian Mortimer Sullivan as consultant and event lead for EcoFest and related cleanups, with a $4,500 EcoFest stipend (plus $1,500 per cleanup); a $10,000 annual memorial gift will help underwrite the inaugural event.
The Town of Rye council voted on March 20 to appoint Brian Mortimer Sullivan as the consultant/event lead for EcoFest and the town’s sustainability cleanup events. Pamela Jaffe (speaker 2) described plans for an EcoFest at Crawford Park, family‑oriented programming, and twice‑yearly cleanups across town and neighboring communities.
Pamela Jaffe said the EcoFest lead stipend is $4,500 for the event plus the existing $1,500 stipend the town has authorized for cleanup leaders. "Brian has now been working for 2 months on behalf of the EcoFest to make it reality," she said. Brian Mortimer Sullivan (speaker 10) thanked the council and encouraged participation, noting cleanup sites and community‑service hours available to students.
Council members noted that a memorial pledge from the late Ashley Weldy's widower, Jack Weldy, will underwrite the inaugural EcoFest. Town staff said the Weldy gift was a $10,000 annual pledge over three years and that last year the gift funded a water‑fountain/bottle‑filling station at the ball field.
Why it matters: The appointment formalizes an event lead and modest compensation to support a new community festival and expanded cleanup activities. Council members stressed volunteer help will be needed for cleanup days and encouraged the community to participate.
What’s next: EcoFest planning will continue, cleanup day is scheduled for May 3 with five sites across the region, and staff will coordinate beneficiary and logistics details with the sustainability committee and public volunteers.
Sources: Town council discussion and roll call on March 20, 2025. Quotes attributable to Pamela Jaffe (speaker 2) and Brian Mortimer Sullivan (speaker 10).
