Politics & Government

Clifton To Pay Legal Fees In Clifton Elementary School Lawsuit

The Clifton Town Council voted Tuesday, Dec. 6, to pay a portion of the legal fees owed by Friends of Community Schools

On Tuesday night, the Clifton Town Council voted to use $25,000 in town funds to help pay a portion of legal fees incurred by a group that worked to keep Clifton Elementary School open.

“The reason I’m in favor of taking this action is that the citizens of the town felt very strongly about this effort, and as a town we want to support the residents,” said Bill Hollaway. “There is nothing more important to the community at this time.”

The figure represents about 14 percent of the legal fees due to Patton Boggs, LLC, the firm hired by Friends of Community Schools, the not-for-profit organization that supported keeping the school open.

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The money would represent 13.6 percent of the Town of Clifton’s annual revenues of about $183,500.

Two lawsuits were filed in an effort to keep the school open, one that opposed the school’s closure and the second which had to do with the way the board handled public records. The council on Tuesday determined that the town would only donate money toward the lawsuit which opposed the school’s closure.

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The decision to donate funds was as dozens of residents spoke out both in favor and against the town funding.


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