Troy City Councilor Mark McGrath has resigned, effective immediately, following reports of a racist voice mail he allegedly left a few years ago.

McGrath confirmed the resignation to Spectrum News Monday morning.

The message, first reported by the Albany Times Union, reportedly contains two slurs against black people. McGrath had apologized for the language and said he didn't recall what the phone call was about.

"The last couple of weeks have been difficult for me and my family. It’s hard for us to fathom what kind of person would hang on to a voicemail I clearly didn’t know existed just to release it to the press more than three years later in an effort to hurt me and my reputation," McGrath said in a statement. "This type of vindictiveness is foreign to me. ... However, at the end of the day, the only win that matters is to do what’s best for me and my family."

McGrath represented Troy's northern Second District.

City Council President Carmella Mantello announced shortly after news of McGrath's resignation she plans to propose a bipartisan committee be formed to fill the vacancy. The city charter requires the seat to be filled.

Mantello wants the committee to be made up of councilors and community members from District 2, and says it should be done in a bipartisan way. She plans to bring this up Thursday during the city council meeting.