By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY Despite an expected hike in rates, the township will continue using Princeton for its backup animal control services this year.
The Township Committee, on March 21, renewed its annual shared service agreement for animal control assistant with the newly consolidated Princeton. While the service will remain essentially unchanged, town officials are expecting rates to increase.However, that new rate is still under negotiation.
”We’re taking a look at a number of different factors of what it costs us and whether we’ve gotten appropriately reimbursed,” said Kathy Monzo, Princeton’s assistant administrator and director of finance.
She added that Princeton should have a recommended rate for Montgomery by the Princeton Council’s April 8 meeting.
Montgomery originally struck a shared service agreement with the Princeton Borough in December 2011, according to the resolution. Health Officer Stephanie Carey said they were paying an all-inclusive fee of $52 an hour for the backup service, which is usually used when Montgomery’s own animal control officers are unavailable.
”We provide a fairly comprehensive animal control service and we do a lot of work,” said Township Administrator Donato Nieman. “We don’t contract that service out, which is why need the backup.”
In 2011 and 2012, Princeton responded to calls for backup a total of 78 times, costing the township a little more than $8,000.
”We provide a high level of service and a really quick response time,” said Ms. Carey. “We have 24/7 coverage and we want to make sure we have that continuous coverage.”
Ms. Carey estimated that Montgomery receives an average of 100 calls for animal control services per month and that the calls range from dog bites and pet licensing to rabies control and dead animal removal.
”We are always looking for alternative sources of revenue to help taxpayers out,” he added.

