Mayor Art Ondish Leadership Award

This award is given annually by Sustainable Jersey in memory of Mayor Arthur Ondish of Mount Arlington. He was a true leader and an original member of the visionary mayors who founded the Sustainable Jersey program. He was a key thinker and doer during the growth of the Sustainable Jersey movement. In the early days, he spent countless hours meeting with local officials to promote Sustainable Jersey and was instrumental in the program's acceptance in rural parts of New Jersey.

This award recognizes an outstanding leader of a Sustainable Jersey certified town who has provided ideas, policy support, and the necessary resources for the green team to achieve significant success towards sustainability at the local level.

 

2024 Recipient: Honorable Robert Conley, Madison

Under Mayor Conley’s leadership, Madison Borough has achieved silver certification and the Sustainability Champion award 6 times since the awards began in 2009. The Mayor is an active participant with the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee and the Climate Action Committee. Mayor Conley serves as a mentor to surrounding mayors and is a frequent panel speaker to share the success stories from his borough. It’s even been said that he walks around town with his own garbage picker.