PORT NORRIS, N.J., Aug. 04, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NJ Delaware Bayshore Council (www.DelawareBayshoreCouncil.org) was recently formed to advocate for the health and sustainability of New Jersey’s Bayshore communities, from the Cape May Canal to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, amplifying the voice of Bayshore issues and community needs and facilitating a healthy balance of economic vitality and conservation. What began as a working group in 2015 at the encouragement of Senator Jeff Van Drew and the 1st District Legislative team, has since incorporated and held its first board meeting with representatives of 13 municipalities, counties and agencies.
The Board elected Lower Township Deputy Mayor Norris Clark as Chairman; Meghan Wren, Founder and Executive Director of Bayshore Center at Bivalve as Vice Chairman, and Jonathan Atwood, Legislative Director of the 1st District Legislative team as Secretary Treasurer.
“We’re ensuring that the Delaware Bayshore is no longer the left behind coast,” stated Norris Clark. “We want to ensure that Bayshore Communities have a vibrant sustainable economy and that they are treated equitably by county, state and federal agencies."
Noted Vice Chair Meghan Wren, “the Council will advocate to restore, improve, preserve and sustain the environment, our natural and engineered beaches, waterways, wildlife habitat, ecosystems, and public lands which surround the communities of the Delaware Bay and its watershed.”
The following entities are entitled to participate in the Council: Lower Township, Middle Township, Dennis Township, Maurice River Township, Commercial Township, Downe Township, Lawrence Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Stow Creek Township, Lower Alloway’s Creek, Elsinboro, Pennsville; Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County, NJ Legislative Districts 1 and 3 (or all Bayshore districts should they ever be redrawn), Congressional District 2, the State of NJ, the Delaware Bay Shellfish Council and the South Jersey Bayshore Coalition. Additional members shall be the Commissioners of NJDEP, NJDOT, NJDA, and NJDCA or their alternates.