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Sustainable Jersey Certification Report

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This is the Sustainable Jersey Certification Report of Downe Twp, a Sustainable Jersey bronze certified applicant.

Downe Twp was certified on September 24, 2025 with 175 points. Listed below is information regarding Downe Twp’s Sustainable Jersey efforts and materials associated with the applicant’s certified actions.

Contact Information

The designated Sustainable Jersey contact for Downe Twp is:

Name:Liz Cowley
Title/Position:Green Team Chair, / Environmental Commission
Address:302 New Jersey Ave
Fortescue, NJ 08321
Phone:8564475376

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Downe Twp was approved for in 2025 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • Arts & Creative Culture

    Establish a Creative Team

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Downe Township Creative Team, originally established in August of 2019 as a subcommittee of the the Green Team called the Downe Cultural Alliance, remains very engaged in the township. The over-arching goal of the Creative Team, working through the Green Team, is to enhance the quality of life for Downe Township residents and visitors through exposure to rich creative and cultural experiences. The Downe Township Creative Team continues its work to infuse arts and culture into community events and bring regional artistic and cultural assets into the community. They amplify and support the creative and cultural activities of the Downe Township Recreation Commission, Downe Township Historical Commission, Dividing Creek Historical Society, Downe Township Seniors, Downe Township School, and other township groups. See attached report of noteworthy accomplishments, since our last certification. CURRENT CREATIVE TEAM ROSTER John Reed - Photographic art - Creative Team Lead and Green Team Member Liz Cowley - Green Team Chairperson Meghan Wren - Green Team Member - Proprietor of “The Sea Chest” Doug Cook - Green Team Member - Chair, Downe Township Planning Board Shelia Levine - Liaison to Downe Yarners and Green Team Member Jamie Warner - Horticulturist - Green Team Corresponding Secretary - Proprietor of “The Great Full Garden” Steve Byrne - Folk Musician - Liaison to local musicians - Downe Township Committeeman Tony Campbell - Deejay and Technical Consultant - Adjunct to Creative Committee Bart Feldman - Professional Photographer - Adjunct to Creative Committee Kathy Weisenburg - Sea Glass Artist - Adjunct to Creative Committee

    Creative Assets Inventory

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Green Team brainstormed the beginnings of the Creative Asset Inventory at its first meeting when we developed an exhaustive list of township organizations and entities from which to recruit liaisons and collect calendar items. This list was added to by the Green Team chair who is familiar with county and regional cultural assets from thirty years as a manager of a cultural institution in the county. Next, out Creative Team lead for 2022 developed a current list for this year identifying programs to highlight, people and organizations to partner with and activities to include in our calendar. Regional arts institutions and artists were consulted to ensure that the inventory is inclusiveness of as many known artists, entities and other assets as possible. The initial 2022 Creative Assets Inventory established an extensive list of our creative assets. This initial list was distributed to our 2024 Creative Team members and Green Team members for review and feedback. The team members identified additional township and state/regional organizations that became more active in creating and supporting cultural events in the township, over the past several years. The team also identified a missing category of craftsman upon review of vendors attending local events. The Creative Assets Inventory was updated in November of 2024 as follows: Event Partners in Downe Township - Downe Township Historical Commission was added - Downe Township Recreation Committee was added NJ/Regional Organizations - Conserve Wildlife was added Individuals and Small Groups - Barber Shop Quartet was removed - Wood Carver was added

  • Community Partnership & Outreach

    Green Team

    10 Points
    Bronze Required Silver Required

    Program Summary: Downe Township Committee unanimously passed an ordinance permanently creating the Green Team on July 8, 2019 after its introduction and public hearing. The Green Team continues to meet monthly. The team has developed a regular schedule of activities, projects and events that it does each year as well as special projects that it undertakes periodically. The team partners with township staff and Committee members, the Downe Township Seniors, Downe Township Fire Rescue, Downe Township School, Downe Township Historical Commission, Downe Township Recreation Commission, Dividing Creek Historical Society, and other township groups. Each year the the Green Team continues to publish our township calendar listing its activities and those of the other township organizations. The Green Team is highly recognized for promoting community engagement, gatherings and improvements. We’ve worked intensely on our Heart & Soul Project which wrapped up in December of 2024, resulting in a $100,000 endowment. The Downe Community Endowment Fund will be used to continue to work toward a more sustainable community for this and future generations.

    Community Education & Outreach

    15 Points

    Program Summary: 1) GUIDED NATURE WALK February 11, 2024 Guided Nature Walk - Bear Swamp - Newport The Green Team hosted a guided nature walk in Bear Swamp, Downe Township, led by Tony Kloc. Tony pointed out the old growth trees as well as the plants growing on the floor of the swamp. He spoke of the various species of wildlife in the swamp. Tony and several other walkers heard and saw a pileated woodpecker. The walk was advertised in our 2024 Downe Township Calendar, on the Downe Township Green Team Facebook Page and flyers in our 3 township post offices, and via group email. 2) LECTURE March 24, 2024 Lecture - Kathy Clark, NJDEP Division of Endangered and Non Game Species and Vicki, Schmidt, NJ State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator On March 24, 2024 the Downe Township Green Team hosted a wildlife lecture at Downe Township’s historic Union Hall in Dividing Creek. Kathy Clark, presented information on the New Jersey Bald Eagle Project, 2023. Kathy explained the objectives of the New Jersey Bald Eagle Program and spoke about nest monitors. Vicki Schmidt, provided insight regarding what a wildlife rehabilitator does and gave common sense information to the attendees regarding what to do if they encounter sick or injured wildlife. This event was advertised on the Downe Township Green Team Facebook Page, flyers in our 3 township post offices. 3) September 21, 2024 - International Waterway Cleanup Downe Township participated in this annual cleanup and registered with the Cumberland County “Authority” prior to the event. Before setting off on the assigned clean up areas, Liz Cowley (Green Team Chair), gave a brief talk to the volunteers on the importance of keeping our waterways clean and free of storm debris, plastics, and other types of litter. Volunteers cleaned the marsh areas on Maple Avenue in Dividing Creek, the Fortescue beaches and Raybin’s Beach and Dyer Cove beach. The event was advertised on the 2024 Downe Township Calendar. We had 9 participants for the cleanup. All planning, organizing and conducting of this cleanup to include: scheduling (in 2023 for inclusion in our 2024 township calendar), determining cleanup locations, advertising, soliciting volunteers, organizing the clean up teams, conducting the clean ups and lastly properly disposing of all trash and recyclables at our township Convenience Center was managed by our Green Team. The Authority always acknowledges our independent, ongoing efforts to keep our small community clean. As noted in the checklist, next year (and as we have done in the past) we will schedule our waterway cleanup based upon our tides, as close to the International Waterway Cleanup date.

    Green Fair

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Downe Township Green Team hosted the annual Horseshoe Crab Festival on May 11, 2024 in Fortescue. We incorporated sustainability education and initiatives into our event. The 1,500 attendees parked in a centralized location, with handicap parking located at the festival entrance. Transportation from centralized parking to the event site was via tractor-drawn wagons, minimizing emissions from autos. A free shuttle bus ran a loop from the main event site to lectures at the Fortescue Chapel, to the guided beach walks at the south end of Fortescue and back, maximizing fuel efficiency of transportation between sites. Attendees received a reusable bag, including literature regarding the impact of single use plastics to our environment and tips to reduce usage. Our Township Administrative Department assisted with permitting, website advertising, and updating/printing of various forms. Our township Municipal Works crew assisted with site prep/set up, provided marked “Trash” and ”Bottles and Cans Only” recycling containers, assisted with clean up and ensured proper disposal/recycling at our municipal Convenience Center. Our Mayor fully supported the event and solicited sponsors. Downe Township Fire Rescue provided first aid services. Forty community members volunteered at the fair. County agencies provided traffic control, and State Police provided security. The event focused on sustainability education thru a lecture series featuring: Susan Linder, Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition; Shane Godshall, American Littoral Society and, Theo Diehl, Wildlife Biologist. There were interpretive beach walks to view migrating shorebirds and spawning horseshoe crabs. School Horseshoe Crab Poster Contest winners were awarded their prizes. The Downe Township Environmental Commission sponsored the annual photo contest. All entries were displayed and winners announced. Some residents/business owners were vendors, to include selling native plants, organic herbs and wood carvings. “The Authority” of Cumberland County manned a booth, with information on county recycling programs. Please see our Facebook page from March 21, 2024 for social media coverage: www.facebook.com/DowneGreenTeam.

  • Emergency Management

    Vulnerable Populations Identification for Emergencies

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The NJ State “Register Ready” database is utilized by Downe Township residents who have special needs that could impact their ability to safely evacuate in the event of a natural disaster such as a hurricane or other types of emergencies. Downe Township promotes the use of this registry. Flyers in English and Spanish regarding “Register Ready” are posted on the Downe Township Municipal Website: http://www.downetwpnj.org (News and Announcements) with the link to “Register Ready” NJ OEM Special Needs Registry for Disasters. Flyers are available at the Downe Township Municipal Building kiosk and at the Senior Center. The Cumberland County Special Needs Registry is also utilized by Downe Township residents. This Registry helps police officers and emergency personnel better assist residents with special needs during emergencies, to include natural disasters. It includes vital information regarding the registrant’s disability (mental or physical), emergency contact information, physical description and current photograph. This registry enables special needs residents to get help and support needed in times of emergencies or interactions with Law Enforcement, Fire for EMS personnel. Flyers in English and Spanish are posted on Downe Township Municipal Website: https://www.downetwpnj.org (News and Announcements) along with a link to the Cumberland County Special Needs Registry. They are also available at the Downe Township Municipal Building kiosk and at the Senior Center. Our Downe Township OEM Manager works directly with Cumberland County OEM in the event of an emergency. Mass messaging of emergency information is through Cumberland County OEM - via Reverse 911 which can dial all residents in Cumberland County or township specific residents. Cumberland County OEM has access to Downe Township “Register Ready” data. The Key Stakeholders List (Officers of Downe Township, Downe OEM Mgr, Downe Seniors Officers, Downe Church Leaders and Downe Fire/Rescue Company Chiefs) is filed in the OEM office.

  • Energy

    Energy Assistance Outreach

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Downe Township Green Team spear heads the township’s efforts to provide direct energy assistance outreach information to our LMI residents as well as to host events during which LMI residents can get one-on-one assistance from our utility providers. Our direct outreach campaign in 2025 focused on inserting utility financial assistance program information in our 2025 Downe Township Calendars. The informational handouts were provided by South Jersey Gas and Atlantic City Electric. Approximately 500 calendars were handed out by Green Team members to residents at the Township Convenience Center. The calendars were handed out on 12/21/24 and 01/04/25. Additionally 360 calendars were mailed out to seasonal residents. There is “hands on” assistance from the Cumberland County Office of Aging, immediately following each monthly Downe Township Seniors meeting. The Office of Aging representative reviews the financial assistance programs with all attendees and holds one-on-one meetings with any one seeking further information or assistance with enrollment. Additionally Christina Teel, Customer Service Outreach Specialist (SJG) was a guest speaker following the Seniors Meeting on January 10, 2025. Christina provided financial assistance information on behalf of ACE and SJG. We also have community events during which we have representatives from our utility providers available to give outreach information and hands on assistance to attendees. The Green Team reached out to ACE and SJG requesting representatives to attend the events. During the Newport Firehouse Open House on October 8, 2024, Veronica Town, External Affairs Manager (ACE), provided information on the Energy Bill Financial Assistance Programs to include (SJG). During our Downe Home Day event on October 19, 2024 at our township school, Veronica also attended and provided the same information/assistance to attendees. This annual event is sponsored by the Downe Green Team and Downe Township School. Our Green Team Chairperson met with all five Downe Township church leaders during April to seek their help in conveying energy assistance information to their congregations. She described the energy assistance programs and provided program flyers for their members. She also spoke about the commercial energy efficiency program “Small Business Direct Install”, that would provide free on-site energy efficiency assessments of their churches. For identified opportunities to improve efficiency, there are cash incentives available that could cover up to 80% of the total energy efficiency project costs. All church leaders were given a SBDI flyer for reference.

    Make Your Town Solar Friendly

    15 Points

    Program Summary: The Downe Township Committee approved Ordinance 2019-13 - An Ordinance Supporting Solar Energy Systems during the public township meeting on September 9, 2019. Township committee members were provided a copy of the meeting agenda and ordinance in advance of the meeting for their respective review. The ordinance is posted on the Township Website for public access.

  • Food

    Community Gardens

    15 Points

    Program Summary: The Fortescue Chapel and Downe Township Green Team collaborated to build a raised bed community vegetable garden in the village of Fortescue in 2020. Since then the garden continues to thrive and produce fresh vegetables all summer long. In 2024 we added herbs such as dill and thyme, as well as cayenne peppers and long hots. These plants were donated by a resident of Fortescue who has her own business growing and selling native plants and herbs. The Green Team provides all of the other plants and labor. Notices regarding crop availability and general crop information are hung up in the Fortescue Post Office, a common gathering spot for our residents, who must pick up their mail (no home delivery). Our community is grateful to the Fortescue Chapel for use of their property and water source for the garden, as there is no municipally owned property in this small community. Our seniors without transportation rely on the Cumberland Area Transit System buses to take them into areas such as Millville and Vineland for groceries. This garden provides fresh vegetables to all residents, at no cost, who may not otherwise have them. The garden is not large enough to provide donations to food banks. 2025 has been a rather challenging spring for gardening, due to excessively cold, dry conditions. Our early April plantings include sugar snap peas, radishes, sweet onions, kale, butter crunch lettuce and romaine lettuce. We also have thyme that wintered over from last year. Things are looking up in May, with warmer temperatures and more rain. Recently we’ve added tomatoes (cherry and slicing), green and sweet cubanelle peppers, cucumbers, and egg plant. Bush green beans will planted within the next few days. We adhere to environmentally friendly practices to include: No synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. We add our own garden compost to enrich the raised bed soil.

  • Green Design

    Green Building Policy/Resolution

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The Downe Township Committee approved Resolution R-37-2025 - Resolution Endorsing the Adoption of Green Building Practices for Civic, Commercial and Residential Buildings during the public township meeting on January 13, 2025. Each committee member was provided a copy of the January 2025 Township Meeting agenda and resolution in advance of the meeting for their respective review. Copies of the approved resolution were distributed to the Township Environmental Commission as well as to the Combined Planning/Zoning Board. The resolution is also posted on the Township Website for public access.

  • Innovative Projects

    Innovative Community Project 1

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Diamond Back Terrapin Sustainability Downe Township is dedicated to supporting the sustainability Diamond Back Terrapins. NJ DEP Fish and Wildlife elevated the status of these terrapins to a “Regional Species of Greatest Concern" in 2023. Terrapins come onto our beaches annually in early June thru early July to lay their eggs. The placement of bin block along our south end dunes makes it difficult for them to return to the bay, at times exposing them to extreme heat which has resulted in deaths. The Downe Township Green Team established a “patrol” to assist terrapins back into the bay after laying eggs. NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife allowed us to operate under a State permit. Participants received permit copies, “Turtle Patrol” patrol signs, clip boards, rulers and were trained data collection. Data was collected on each terrapin. Numbered location signs (1-12) corresponding to specific GPS locations were placed along the bin blocks. Rescuers recorded the sign number where the terrapin was found. In other locations in Fortescue, patrol members recorded addresses/locations. The Green Team, installed a sign at the bridge into Fortescue, indicating level of turtle activity and to “slow down”. A master list of longitude and latitude (GPS) locations was created for the entry of accurate data into a Google Sheet, as required by the permit. In 2024 we rescued 385 terrapins and collected data, to be evaluated by NJ DEP regarding what might be done to mitigate further entrapments and deaths. Lastly the Green Team sponsored a Diamond Back Terrapin lecture by Brian Zarate (NJ DEP Fish and Wildlife) to better educate our community of the challenges the diamond back terrapins face and what the State is doing to preserve this species. The lecture was advertised on facebook.com/DowneGreenTeam, flyers in Post Offices and very well attended (30 attendees). This patrol will resume in June 2025.

  • Land Use & Transportation

    Sustainable Land Use Pledge

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Downe Township unanimously adopted a Sustainable Land Use resolution at its August 12, 2019 meeting and an updated one in September 2022. Most recently the Downe Township Committee approved Resolution R-34-2025 - Resolution Pledging To Support Sustainable Land Use during the public township meeting on January 13, 2025. Each committee member was provided a copy of the January 2025 Township Meeting agenda and resolution in advance of the meeting for their respective review. Copies of the approved resolution were provided to the Township Combined Planning/Zoning Board and to the Environment Commission. The Historical Commission as well as the Recreation and Tourism Commission were also provided copies. The resolution is also posted on the Township Website for public access.

  • Natural Resources

    Water Conservation Ordinance

    20 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Downe Township “2025-09 Outdoor Landscape Water Conservation Ordinance” was written by the township solicitor, based upon the Sustainable Jersey “model” ordinance. The ordinance was passed by the Downe Township Committee on June 9th, during the regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The agenda for the June meeting is posted on the Downe Township Municipal Website: https://www.downetwpnj.org under Government “Agendas and Minutes”. The ordinance is posted under Government “ Ordinances and Resolutions”. In order to inform our residents of the new ordinance, a notification is posted on the Municipal Website home page under “News and Announcements”. Additionally, notification of the ordinance was included in the flyer insert sent out with the annual Tax Bill mailings in July. All property owners received this mailing. The township Code Enforcement Officer received a copy of the ordinance in his mail bin at the municipal building, for subsequent enforcement.

  • Waste Management

    Non-Mandated Materials Recycling

    15 Points

    Program Summary: TerraCycle Our TerraCycle program began in early 2022, when several residents of Fortescue (one a Green Team member) were talking about beach and street cleanups and noting how many cigarette butts and plastic caps they pick up and put in the trash. That was the beginning of the Downe Township Green Team’s enrollment in TerraCycle. In mid 2023 the Downe Township Green Team realized that we needed to engage our residents in participating in TerraCycle. To do so, we knew that we needed a centralized collection center for the items. The Green Team presented our plan to construct and install a collection kiosk at our Municipal Convenience Center to Township leadership and the Department of Public Works. They all fully supported our plan. The Green Team funded, designed, constructed and installed the TerraCycle kiosk in February 2024. The current items collected at our kiosk include: Tom’s of Maine Dental/Deodorant items, Bimbo Bakeries Plastic Packaging, Stanley/Black and Decker Tools, and Reusable Shopping Bags. Since 2024, we’ve shipped a total 7.85 pounds of cigarette butts and 75.6 pounds of caps, all collected during beach and street cleanups as well as 3.95 pounds of Bimbo Bakery plastic packaging, 7.75 pounds of Tom’s of Maine Dental/Deodorant products/packaging and 91.9 pounds of Stanley/Black & Decker Tools. The Cumberland County Improvement Authority is collecting reusable bags, which are sanitized and distributed to our local food banks. Thus far we have delivered 250 bags to The Authority. In order to promote TerraCycle with all of our residents, we incorporated a “TerraCycle” theme into our 2024 Downe Township Calendar. We also included a flyer with information about the 2024 collection items. As they do every year, Green Team volunteers handed out calendars/flyers at the Convenience Center and mailed them to seasonal residents. The flyers of our current kiosk collection items are posted on the Downe Township Municipal Website: https://www.downetwpnj.org under “News and Announcements”.

    Recycling Depot

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Downe Township operates its Convenience Center located at 288 Main Street in Newport on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7am - 2pm. Downe Township has a shared service agreement with Commercial Township for a Certified Recycling Coordinator, Township Resolution R-47-2025. Operating during the week and on the weekend allows residents optional days to bring their trash and recyclables. There are specific containers for Class A recyclables to include: Paper, cardboard Co-mingled plastic containers (#1, #2, #5), glass bottles and jars, aluminum and tin cans Other items also collected: Books Appliances Bulk Waste (furniture, scrap lumber, etc.) White goods (iron, aluminum, or other light metal) Car Batteries Tires (w/o rims) Used Clothing (a donation bin is onsite near the entrance) There is also an area set aside for brush and tree branches. These items are chipped and reused for ground application within the township. This process is relatively new to our center. Residents can also to take loads for personal use. Our Township also celebrates Community Pride Month, during which up to 4 tires without rims will be accepted with no charge and arrangements can be made for the township to pick up bulk waste items. See attached Township Quarterly Newsletter (page 3). “Cumberland County Recycle Guidelines” flyers are available in the kiosk inside the township building. More information can be found on the Downe Township Website: https://downetwpnj.org “Community” tab