BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — During a special called meeting of the Black Mountain Town Council, council member Doug Hay announced his resignation, effective immediately.

Hay’s announcement at the June 30 meeting followed the adoption of the Black Mountain Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget by Town Council.

Doug Hay reads resignation letter

“Mayor, if you don’t mind, I’d like to read something real quick,” Hay said, about 48 minutes into the meeting.

“Dear Mayor, Town Council staff and community,” Hay read from his council chair. “Serving on the Black Mountain Town Council for nearly six years has been one of the deepest privileges of my life, a responsibility I’ve never taken lightly, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, from strengthening our services and improving our development ordinances to working through the long recovery following [Tropical Storm] Helene.”

Hay explained that he felt he needed to step away from his council seat in order to better provide for his family.

“Like I’m sure it has for many of my colleagues, serving has come at a real cost for my family. I was first elected just two months after my youngest daughter was born,” Hay shared. “While I’ve worked extremely hard since then, since being elected, to juggle the demands of a young family, working full-time and giving Town Council the attention it deserves, that balance has become impossible to maintain.”

Hay said that the decision was difficult to make, but that he felt he would be doing Black Mountain a disservice by continuing to serve in a role he could not be fully present in.

“With the budget resolved, elections ahead and a new phase of recovery beginning, I believe now is the right time to make this transition,” Hay added.

The council member said he believed the challenges that the Black Mountain community faces are “real and significant,” but that they could be weathered through teamwork and problem-solving.

In his closing remarks, Hay reflected on his family ties to the area and shared his gratitude with the people of Black Mountain for giving him the opportunity to represent his community.

“Thank you to this community for trusting me, for the trust you placed in me. Thank you to my fellow council members for taking on what comes next, and thank you to my family, who has sacrificed so much so I could serve. I’m extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity,” Hay said. “Black Mountain is my home. I can’t imagine a better community to raise my family. Just as my grandparents and great-grandparents have done and did before them, I look forward to showing up for this community for years to come, just in a different capacity. See you around town.”

Hay is the second Black Mountain Town Council member to resign in 2026, following Pam King on April 22.