Longtime council officer to resign
HARMONY — Borough Council President Jeff Smith said he will resign from council in June to take a new position with the Butler County Council of Governments.
Smith, who's been president of the council for 10 years, will be the executive director of the county's council of government. His term on the borough council ends at the end of this year after serving 12 years.
In his new post, Smith will focus on recruiting members to the COG and will be the organization's representative to the Butler County Economic Task Force and the Route 228 Regional Coalition Alliance.
He also will write grants and organize COG meetings and other functions.
The COG consists of 28 municipalities, three school districts, and six authorities in the county.
"After doing something for 12 years, it is certainly going to be different not being involved with Harmony council," Smith said. "But for as much as I enjoyed it, I am looking forward to the opportunity to devote more attention to the COG."
Smith compiled a list of accomplishments during his tenure on council.
He helped get more than $600,000 in county, state, and federal grants for projects ranging from infrastructure needs to quality of life issues concerning parks and walking trails.
He also led the planning and fundraising for the Harmony Bicentennial celebration in 2004. His efforts helped create a weeklong celebration of the borough's 200th anniversary without using tax money.
Smith was named the 2008 Pennsylvania Councilman of the Year, an honor picked by his elected peers.
Smith, who is married with six children, works at PPG Industries in Pittsburgh, a job he'll retain even after leaving for the COG, which is not a full-time position.
Mayor Cathy Rape has worked with Smith for eight years. She said that even though the two didn't always agree on every issue, Smith has been a valuable asset and brought positive change to the borough.
"In the beginning we had a very good relationship and worked well together," Rape said. "If I didn't know how or who to contact, he seemed to find the communications easily. He did do a lot of good for Harmony."
Smith said, "When I first ran for council, people asked me why I wanted to do it. The answer that I always gave was, 'I'd like to leave this town a better place than when I arrived.'
"It probably sounded a little idealistic, but I really meant it. And I think I have done that."
