FRANKLIN RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, New Jersey—November 30, 2010—Franklin Township was honored by Sustainable Jersey, a statewide program encouraging municipalities to become more environmentally sustainable, receiving the Bronze level certification for its actions to improve its environmental ‘footprint’.

            The award was received by Councilman Theodore Chase at the Sustainable Jersey awards luncheon on November 16, 2010 at the 95th Annual New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference.

            Franklin was one of 67 New Jersey municipalities that attained certification since the Sustainable Jersey program began in 2009. Sustainable Jersey is a certification program for municipalities in New Jersey that want to go green, save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long run. Their motto: “A better tomorrow, one community at a time.”

To become Sustainable Jersey certified, Franklin submitted documentation that it completed a number of sustainability actions. These included: an energy audit of all township-owned buildings; compilation of an Environmental Resource Inventory; the Township’s Environmental Commission’s establishment of a community garden and co-sponsoring,  with the Theta Psi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, a Green Forum to educate township residents on actions they can take to save energy and money.

            According to Fred Profeta, chair of the New Jersey League of Municipalities Mayors’ Committee for a Green Future, which originated Sustainable Jersey, “It’s quite an accomplishment to become Sustainable Jersey certified. The 2010 certified towns have joined an elite group of municipalities that are leading the way with impressive sustainability initiatives in New Jersey, while providing a model for towns across the United States.”

“This is good; but now we must press on to the Silver level of certification,” Councilman Chase said.