BRUIN — And then there were five.

That's how many members will comprise Bruin Borough Council after a Butler County judge last week approved a petition to downsize the local government body.

The borough petitioned the court to shrink council from its current seven members.

“Council for the borough of Bruin,” the petition said, “believes that a five-member council will adequately meet the needs of the borough.”

The move was largely made because it was getting more difficult to attract people willing to serve on council.

“It's like every other small municipality,” said Eric Feicht, a former council member. “It's hard to get people to run and serve. It's a sign of the times.”

Tuesday's primary was a case in point. There was only one Republican candidate and no Democratic candidates for three open four-year council seats this year.

Additionally, neither party fielded a candidate for an open two-year-seat.

Judge S. Michael Yeager in his ruling May 16, which followed a hearing, agreed to reduce council's size.

In this order, he noted that current members of council will remain in office until the end of their respective terms.

“No member of council's term of office shall be terminated prior to the end of their term,” Yeager wrote.

A total of 28 registered voters signed a petition that called for the reduction of council. Under Pennsylvania law, at least 5 percent of a borough's registered voters are required to sign a petition before the matter results in a court hearing.

Bruin, a borough of 524 people, according to the 2010 federal census, has 236 registered voters.

The signatures represented 12 percent of eligible voters.

Feicht, whose signature is the first one on the petition, noted that a lack of interest to serve over the years made the move for a slimmed down council inevitable.

He served on council for a year and a half after being appointed to fill a vacancy. His council service ended when he was elected chief of the Bruin Volunteer Fire Department.