Princeton Hires New Animal Control Officer

New animal control officer Nat Barson speaks at the Princeton council meeting Monday night.
New animal control officer Nat Barson speaks at the Princeton council meeting Monday night.

The town of Princeton has hired a new animal control officer to replace longtime employee Mark Johnson.

West Windsor native Nate Barson was introduced at the Princeton Council meeting Monday night. Barson, 27, has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and biology. The Lambertville resident was previously was contracted to serve as the animal control officer for 18 communities in Hunterdon County through a business he owned called Animal Control Investigative Services.

“I have ideas on progressive methods to bring to Princeton,” he told elected officials when the welcomed him Monday night. “I want to improve the quality of service and will be proactive instead of just reactive.”

Barson, who began his new post on July 8, will be supervised by the town’s health officer. For the last few years the animal control officer was supervised by the police department, but that system did not work out in the case of Johnson. Previously for many years the animal control officer reported to the health officer.