South Bruce Mayor John Close has been served with a summons to appear in Provincial Court on November 15th to answer to criminal charges of obstruct justice.

This announcement comes from Pine Grove Park resident John Strachan who has pursued this matter most of the summer on his own.

Strachan believes he has spent hundreds of hours perusing documents that has resulted in his accusation against Close.

Bayshore Broadcasting News has confirmed the Mayor was delivered a summons at the end of last week.

In July, Strachan called for the removal of Close from the Police Services Board because of alleged interference with bylaw officers, regarding a gate that was erected, blocking public access to Sauble Beach between 5th and 6th Streets.

Strachan alleges the Mayor has approached the OPP and bylaw officers and "selectively told them who to charge and what not to charge and who not to charge and it stems from the problem we're having that's called "Sauble Gate."

Strachan says he's not buying into the latest news release from the municipality indicating that they have had two legal opinions that state the "Dynamic Beach By-Law" is not enforceable on private properties unless the town has permission from the private property owner.

Strachan says The Friends of Sauble Beach has legal opinions that state the exact opposite -- and according to Strachan those opinions have been shared with the town.

He suggests the town just looked for an opinion that fit what they thought was right.

Two attempts have been made to contact Mayor John Close for his comments on the issue but we were unable to make contact.

Messages were left with the mayor.

If found guilty, the maximum penalty for obstruct justice is ten years in jail.