The Maplewood Township Committee took two actions this week involving green initiatives and sustainability.

In response to a proposal from Deputy Mayor Fred Profeta, known for his passion for environmental causes, the township committee voted to create a new government group, called the Green Team.

The creation of a Green Team is required for the township to qualify for certification by the Sustainable Jersey program, a statewide effort Profeta was instrumental in creating.  According to Sustainable Jersey guidelines the Green Team is meant "lead and coordinate the sustainability activities of the community." It had been proposed in earlier Committee meetings, but there was some concern the group’s function would overlap with the already existing Environmental Advisory Board.

Another Committee action also pertained to the Sustainable Jersey initiative. At the May 5 Township Committee meeting, the members voted to pursue a Wal-Mart grant offered for municipalities to “institute greening and sustainability initiatives.”

Mayor Vic DeLuca expressed some reservations about accepting money from Wal-Mart. He noted that in his professional life— as the President of the Jesse Noyes Foundation, he directs grant money to environmental initiatives and social justice causes—he had dealt with numerous environmental complaints against the Wal-Mart corporation. However, he ultimately voted to pursue the grant.

“The problem with tainted money is that there ‘taint’ enough of it,” he joked during the Township Committee meeting.