NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, SportsSkidmore College relocating employees due to health concerns

Skidmore College relocating employees due to health concerns

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Skidmore College announced  they will be relocating all offices in Starbuck Center on the downtown Saratoga Springs campus to investigate health concerns.

In a statement on Thursday, the college says they recently learned that some of the employees in the building are experiencing health concerns that they believe could be related to their work space.

Over the next few weeks, the 50 employees that work in the Starbuck Center will be relocated either to Palamountain Hall or Case Center. An industrial hygienist has been retained to perform testing on the building, to try to determine if there are environmental factors that need to be addressed.

NEWS10 talked with a Skidmore College employee who works in the Starbuck Center, who says the health concerns of her co-workers consist of "mostly respiratory issues, possible cancer." She said the school is "doing the best they can" is handling the situation.

The employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said she is concerned for her own health, with several doctors' appointments pending.

The offices, which include employees from Academic Advising, Registrar, and Student Academic Services, will be relocated to the fourth floor of Palamountain Hall next week.

Remaining offices, including Card Services and Student Financial Aid offices will be relocated to the second floor of Palamountain. While Career Services, First-Year Experience, and Off-Campus Study and Exchange will be relocated to Case Center shortly thereafter.

According to Dan Forbush, executive director of communications at the college, Skidmore College felt it was prudent to relocate all employees in the building until the situation could be better understood.

Pending the move, Forbush said the College is working with any employee who expresses concern on a case-by-case basis.

"After the relocations have been completed, we expect that Starbuck will be off-line for some number of months," Forbush said. "We will be able to estimate that period of time more accurately once we begin to see test results."