By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Staff Writer
Princeton will pay Montgomery $15,000 through June 30 for animal control services.
The council voted Monday night to enter a temporary shared services agreement with Montgomery until it hires its own animal control officer.
Former Princeton animal control officer Mark Johnson was offered a separation agreement from the town, a deal that he has yet to accept or reject.
“We have not heard anything at this point,” Municipal Administrator Marc Dashield said Monday afternoon.
Mr. Johnson is no longer on the municipal payroll. The town had suspended him starting Feb. 23 for undisclosed reasons.
Several residents attended the Monday night council meeting to praise Mr. Johnson and his work and to call for his reinstatement.
Resident Dawn Day said she had deer in her yard and Mr. Johnson “handled the situation in a very kind way.”
“I appreciated his work ethic and his attitude,” she said.
Others said he was very knowledgeable about and respectful of animals and helpful to residents. There was public misconception over why he was suspended and offered a separation agreement, with some residents believing it was the result of his issuing tickets to a resident who allegedly interfered with the deer culling season.
Township Attorney Trishka Cecil said officials could not discuss the reasons for his suspension and the separation agreement to protect Mr. Johnson’s privacy.
“It’s not due to the issue with the deer summonses,” Ms. Cecil said.
Councilwoman Jo Butler, who received a phone call from the resident who received the summonses from Mr. Johnson, said, “That’s not the reason why. No one is sorrier than I am that he is no longer our animal control officer.”
She added, “Anyone else who gets a summons, do not call me.”