Marystown Mayor Sam Synard says he will be 'exonerated' on charge of using a fake document

MarystownMayor Sam Synardhas been charged withusing a forged documentan affidavit.

RCMPtold CBC News thatSynard, 57, was arrested on July 8 andbriefly held in custody.

Information filed in Grand Bank provincialcourt statesthe alleged forging offence happened on or between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2016.

"I do fully expect to be exonerated," saidSynard.

Without going into details,Synardimpliedit's more of what has between happening between him and theMarystowncouncil.

• Marystown mayor says town council is dysfunctional

Synardsaidthat over the last few years, he's been accused of being in a conflict of interestand of harassing a town employee.

"After a fairly extensive legal investigation, it was found that Mr. Synardis not in a conflict," saidSynard.

"It didn't go to court. It was done internally, but it did cost the taxpayers $20,000."

Harassment allegation

"So you fast forward a number of years later, I'm accused of harassing an employee," he said.

"Another lawyer is involved. He produces a report that, again, cost the taxpayers a fair amount of money, saying categorically, Mayor Synarddid not harass anybody."

Synard saidthat less than a year ago, the council voted to do away with a separate election for mayor while he was in St. John's chairing a provincial conference.

I do fully expect to be exonerated.- Sam Synard

"Unanimous vote. No discussion. No debate. No notice of motion. No anything. Of course the community got quite upset over that in particular," said Synard.

"So council retracted and rescinded their motion."

"And then you fast forward to where I am now. I've spent a lot of my energy having to defend my good character. And council has spent a lot of their energy trying to disparage my good character."

'Unbelievable forme'

Synardsaidhe doesn't know why this is happening to him.

"I never thought I'd be at the centre of thesekinds of stories. It's unbelievable for me."

Synardwouldn'tsay if this is an issue between him and an individual councillor or several members of council.

"What I can say is that I'm disappointed that it has come down to this. But I'm looking forward to a speedy resolution. And I'm looking forward to being re-elected mayor of Marystown."

Synardhas a date set in provincial court in Grand Bank on Aug. 23.