Voorhees Township is close to officially becoming a sustainable town with state recognition after the township committee approved a resolution to conduct an examination of the master plan to consider and evaluate the adoption of natural resources inventory and open space and recreational plans.
“We are just a couple of pieces of paperwork away,” said Ed Hale, chairman of the Voorhees Environmental Commission.
According to Hale, a group of private citizens took the responsibility for officially certifying Voorhees, but failed. He said township administrator Larry Spellman approached the Environmental Commission at the end of last year, asking if it was possible for members to take on the task of certifying Voorhees.
In January, Sustainable Voorhees was created as a sub-commission, and the group has been working on filing for certification since then.
The commission still has to wait for resubmission approval from Sustainable Jersey before the certification is official.
“We will be 105 points away from silver certification,” Hale said.
To reach the Bronze Certification level, the township had to have a green team, receive 150 points, complete two out of 17 priority actions and meet six out of 16 categories.
Priority actions, categories and points are set by Sustainable Jersey standards and Voorhees has 245 points. The Silver Certification requires the township to have 350 points.
“The certification allows us to apply for grants,” Spellman said.
Two of the grant applications were approved for submission at a recent meeting.
According to the township’s agenda, one is a $2,000 Sustainable Jersey Capacity Building grant and the other is a $20,000 Sustainable Jersey Small grant. An integrated test management plan is on the agenda for approval at the next meeting, Spellman said.
The benefits of having a stamp of approval from the organization go beyond full eligibility for grants.
“The benefits come from the sustainability itself,” Hale said.
A lifelong resident, Hale said when he starting looking at the Recycling Tonnage Grants and its percentages, “it was a real eye opener.”
According to the township’s minutes on Dec. 12, 2012, $46,339 was inserted into the township’s revenue as part of the Recycling Tonnage grant — a state grant program that provides incentives to counties and municipalities to increase recycling activities and reduce disposal percentages.
“Voorhees was well on its way before becoming involved in Sustainable Jersey,” Hale said.
He said it came down to gathering information and submitting it in an understandable format for Sustainable Jersey.
The next goal is to continue with green initiatives, increasing community involvement and quality of life in the township.
“It’s nice that we are recognized by Sustainable Jersey, but what we are doing is for the betterment of the community and not so much that we have a plaque to hang in the window,” Hale said.
