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Clay, New York · Sunday, September 20, 2026· Sep 20, 2026
🎓 Board of Education (Liverpool)

Same Three-Member Bloc Opposes Every Contested Vote at Liverpool Board's Jan. 17 Special Meeting

2025-01-17 · 418 words
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Key Actions & Decisions

  • Board's first motion to enter executive session, to discuss matters that could lead to the appointment or dismissal of "persons/corporations," failed 4-3, with one of eight members present not recorded voting either way
  • An identical second motion to enter executive session followed immediately and passed 5-3; Hayley Downs, Stacey Chilbert and Daniel McKeever voted no both times
  • Board returned to open session at 7:07 PM by unanimous 8-0 vote
  • Board considered a resolution, presented on the floor, on using hallway space for student and teacher recognition tied to the POOL Awards
  • A secondary motion to table that resolution passed 6-2, with Nicholas Blaney and Jecenia Bresett opposed to tabling it
  • A motion to appoint Hazard, Young & Attea Associates as the district's superintendent search consultants was never made; the minutes state "No motion made"
  • Board voted 5-3 to appoint Cerio Law Offices, PLLC as outside special counsel for an unspecified legal matter, with Downs, Chilbert and McKeever again dissenting
  • Meeting adjourned 8-0 at 7:18 PM, about 78 minutes after it began

At a Jan. 17 special meeting, Liverpool's Board of Education split 5-3 on nearly every contested question — including whether to even enter executive session — with the same three members dissenting each time, while a proposal to hire a superintendent search firm was never brought to a vote at all.

People
Nicholas Blaney (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Jecenia Bresett (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Kimberly Melnik (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Matthew Jones (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) John Solazzo (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Daniel McKeever (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Stacey Chilbert (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Hayley Downs (Liverpool CSD Board of Education member) Gail Massett (District Clerk, Liverpool CSD) Douglas Lawrence (Liverpool CSD administrator (recurring in meeting attendance))

Typeset from the official record — motions and recorded votes are detected automatically. The official copy governs.

Liverpool Central School District

Board of Education

Special Board Meeting Friday, January 17, 2025

Members present

Nicholas Blaney, Hayley Downs, Jecenia Bresett, Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

Others present

Douglas Lawrence, Interim Superintendent, Gail Massett, District Clerk

Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM

1. OPENING

1.1 Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

2. EXECUTIVE SESSION - AS NEEDED

2.1 Executive Session - As Needed

Motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing matters which may lead to the appointment of particular persons, corporations and matters which may lead to the dismissal and/or removal of particular persons/corporations.

Motion by: Jecenia Bresett, second by Matthew Jones

Final Resolution: Motion Failed

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Jecenia Bresett, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones

Nay: Hayley Downs, Stacey Chilbert, Daniel McKeever

Second Motion to enter into executive session

Motion by: Jecenia Bresett, second by Kimberly Melnik

Final Resolution: Motion Passed

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Jecenia Bresett, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones, John Solazzo

Nay: Hayley Downs, Stacey Chilbert, Daniel Mckeever

Motion to return to open session at 7:07 PM

Motion by Daniel McKeever, second by Matthew Jones

Final Resolution: Motion Passed Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Jecenia Bresett, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones, John Solazzo, Hayley Downs, Stacey Chilbert, Daniel McKeever

Motion put forward to adopt the resolution that was presented to use the Board in the hall for student and teacher achievement because we are doing the POOL Awards and I think it would be a great spot.

Motion by: Kimberly Melnik, second by Jecenia Bresett

Secondary motion put forward to table the resolution.

Motion by: Stacey Chilbert, second by John Solazzo

Final Resolution: Motion Passed

Aye: Daniel McKeever, Stacey Chilbert, Hayley Downs, Matthew Jones, Kimberly Melnik, John Solazzo

Nay: Nicholas Blaney, Jecenia Bresett

Motion to appoint Hazard, Young & Attea Associates as the Superintendent Search Consultants and award the bid of the RFP to the same.

No motion made

Motion to appoint outside special counsel on a temporary basis for the purpose of a particular legal matter and executing a contract with Cerio Law Offices, PLLC

Motion by: Jecenia Bresett, second by Matthew Jones

Final Resolution: Motion Passed

Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Jecenia Bresett, Matthew Jones, John Solazzo, Kimberly Melnik

Nay: Stacey Chilbert, Hayley Downs, Daniel McKeever

3. ADJOURNMENT

3.1 Adjourn Meeting

Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:18 PM

Motion by: Matthew Jones, second by Daniel McKeever

Final Resolution: Motion Passed Aye: Nicholas Blaney, Jecenia Bresett, Kimberly Melnik, Matthew Jones, John Solazzo, Daniel McKeever, Hayley Downs, Stacey Chilbert