Jim Hulings

HARMONY — President Jim Hulings resigned Wednesday from borough council, saying it is time for him to retire.

Hulings, 70, still has a year remaining on his term, which will be up for grabs in next November’s elections. He served more than two years as council president.

The council is expected to appoint a replacement for him at its meeting on Tuesday.

Hulings said being the council president is a full-time job, adding that he often amassed 40 to 60 hours a week of work helping the borough function.

That time also was spent on organizing and fundraising for the festivals and other attractions sponsored by the borough.

“It’s a busy little town, and it doesn’t have any staff,” he said. “Everything is done with volunteers and their contributions. We’re not like other towns where they can just pull out a check for a million dollars. We start making phone calls and line up the volunteers.”

Hulings only served on council for three years, two of those as president and one as vice president.

He is most proud of the fact that council never raised taxes during his time while the budget showed a surplus all three years.

The time spent on council was hard work, he said, although it was time well spent working on behalf of Harmony and its residents.

“It was a very interesting experience and a lot of hard work,” he said. “It was rewarding to walk around town on the improved sidewalks, where baby strollers could navigate, kids could play and ride bikes and we could all breathe smoke-free air.”

However, Hulings’ exit from council doesn’t mean he’s disappearing from politics. He said he will remain active in Butler County’s Republican Party and will continue campaigning for candidates. Hulings also has served as a judge of elections for years.

Mayor Cathy Rape said she will miss Hulings on council, adding that he spent more hours working for the betterment of the borough than any other council president before him.

“I appreciate all he’s done, and he’s certainly brought more professionalism to the position,” she said. “I think he had high hopes coming in, and in a small town everyone tries to work together, but you can’t change everything at once.”

Rape added that she is “sorry to see him go.”