Bob Kiser took the position 33 years ago but will retire to spend time with his family this summer, he said.
PRINCETON - After 33 years on the job, Princeton town engineer Bob Kiser is handing over the reins.
Kiser, who hasn't yet handed in his official notice of retirement yet, announced this week that he would be retiring and said he believes his final days as town engineer will be in either June or July.
The new Princeton logo designed by town resident Jeff Leonard. "I think it's time for others to step up and provide leadership," Kiser said Tuesday, adding that his new role as a grandfather also factored into the decision.
The change will be a substantial one for the town, which has seen Kiser as the engineer for over three decades. He took over the position in the early 1980's after serving as the city engineer in Easton, Pa.
When an engineering job opened up in Princeton 33 years ago, Kiser leapt at the chance.
"I said, 'that's the type of community I would like to work for,'" Kiser said. In the years that ensued, Kiser said he has worked on repairs after two major hurricanes - something he said engineers are not generally trained to handle - and many road improvement projects.
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But it's been a while since Kiser took the Princeton job and, he noted with a laugh, the same roads he worked on fixing 30 years ago are in need of repairs again.
Since he recently became a grandfather and his wife also retired from her job as a schoolteacher, Kiser said he felt it was time for him to do the same.
The process is in the early stages and Kiser said he doesn't know exactly when he will step down or what the process will be for finding a new engineer.
But he's not concerned about the future of the town.
"I'm confident that they can continue with the type of culture that they have here."
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
