CAPE MAY – Sustainable Jersey representatives awarded the City of Cape May the Silver-Level certification for meeting it rigorous requirements. Cape May is one of only 14 New Jersey municipalities that have attained certification at the silver-level in 2017. The City was honored at the Sustainable Jersey Awards Luncheon Nov. 14 in Atlantic City with Mayor Clarence “Chuck” Lear in attendance. The City’s Green Team Chair, Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Elliott, pastor of the Cape May Lutheran Church, accepted the award on the City’s behalf.
Mayor Lear expressed the City’s appreciation, saying, “I would like to thank our Green Team members and their chair, Rev. Jeff Elliott, who worked diligently to make Cape May City one of the most sustainable communities in the Stare. The Silver Certificate award is testimony to the exemplary job the City does as a model of sustainability and resiliency. We are a model for other communities to emulate. Our approach is inclusive and demonstrates the collaborative efforts of the City, the school district, the many arts, historic and environmental non-profits and businesses to make us a leading sustainable community.”
To become Sustainable Jersey certified at the silver-level, Cape May submitted documentation to show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 350 action points. In fact, the City achieved a record 425 points and was named Sustainability Champion in the small cities category.
In addition to reaching 350 points, each community had to create a green team and select at least three out of twelve priority action options. Cape May forged ahead to accomplish work in 8 of the categories.
City Council member Tricia Hendricks observed, “This is particularly notable since 5 priority action areas previously achieved by Cape May were retired and not eligible in the 2017 point totals. Our City made great strides to break new ground and surpass previous standards.”
“Sustainable Jersey is proud of the 70 New Jersey towns that achieved certification this year,” said Randy Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey. “The 208 Sustainable Jersey certified towns demonstrate leadership and are a testament to how much we can accomplish toward the long-term goal of a sustainable New Jersey.” Certified towns excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, reducing waste, sustaining local economies, protecting natural resources and advancing the arts. Collectively, the 445 participating Sustainable Jersey towns are a powerful force in New Jersey.
Cape May’s City Council will recognize the outstanding work of the Green Team and the City’s 2017 Sustainable Jersey awards at the Council work session Dec. 5.
