Town of Johnston v. Santilli

OPINION

Justice FLAHERTY,

for the Court.

A hostile and fractious relationship between town hall and the school committee in the Town of Johnston has led to repeated clashes in the courtroom and in hearings before the Commissioner of Education. The specific battles between them primarily have been over money and budgetary control, but also have included allegations of intimidation of school department personnel, including the Superintendent of Schools, by both the Mayor and the Director of Finance.

The dispute before us presently involves cross-appeals from a declaratory judgment in which a…