This event was held to recognize New Jersey’s sustainability community and took place at the Sheraton Convention Center Hotel in Atlantic City.
Deputy Mayor Victoria Napolitano is a passionate supporter of sustainability and acts as the town council liaison for Sustainable Moorestown. Keeping up-to-date with sustainability at the state-level, she attended the Sustainable Jersey Annual Luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 15 from noon to 2 p.m. in Atlantic City.
“As the council liaison to Sustainable Moorestown, I went to support our group, and we were well represented by members of the committee and the Moorestown Creates! Subcommittee,” Napolitano said.
Sustainable Moorestown is comprised of Moorestown residents, small business owners and other stakeholders who are also passionate about sustainability. Sustainable Jersey, the larger state-wide nonprofit organization, then helps provide tools, training and financial incentives to help local communities pursue their sustainability programs. Both organizations work to maintain the goal of achieving prosperity while creating a long-term, sustainable environment for future generations.
At the 8th annual luncheon event, which is considered the premier celebration for New Jersey’s sustainability community, many topics related to sustainability were discussed. The event is held each year as a chance for participating municipalities and school districts to network and recognize achievements that have been made through the program in the past year.
This year, the event hosted a variety of leaders in the sustainability movement and that recognize businesses, academic institutions and more than 437 municipalities participating in the program.
After the pre-luncheon networking session, the luncheon proceeded with a ceremony that recognized the 2016 Sustainable Jersey Certified Communities. At this point, Moorestown was recognized for its third achievement of the Silver Award, a certification awarded to municipalities able to present documentation to show they have completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 350 action points.
Moorestown was honored to receive this award, the highest award seeing there is no gold award offered. The township accrued the most points in Burlington County, and was second in its town size bracket of between 5,000 and 40,000 residents, just a few points behind Ewing Township. The municipality is also one of just 39 towns in the state to earn Silver Certification from Sustainable Jersey.
“I’m very proud of the work this committee has done. Since its inception, Sustainable Moorestown has been working hard to sustain and improve our quality of life, and helping the township to think creatively,” Napolitano said. “That’s why council chose to make them a permanent township committee — to ensure that Moorestown remains committed to sustainability efforts indefinitely.”
Sustainable Moorestown’s Green Team typically meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the “Donut” Meeting Room at the Town Hall, located at 111 W. Second St. For more information on the group, call (856) 235–0912 or visit http://www.moorestown.nj.us/183/Green-Team—Sustainable-Moorestown.