October 2, 2026

  1. Office & Department Directory
  2. Environmental Health and Safety
  3. October 2, 2026

MINUTES OF ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY SAFETY COMMITTEE/

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CAMPUS SECURITY HELD VIA TEAMS

ON FRIDAY, September 4, 2026, STARTING AT 800 A.M.

Chairperson:   Nick Ormasen, Co-Chair, called meeting to order 0801

Present: Alana Belkevich, Mary Charleston, Kasarian Dane, Marijo Hagget, Ceyda Kartal, Sam Mace, Alyse Millikan, Stacie Olney-LaPierre, Nick Ormasen, Co-Chair, Jason Pilarski, CO-Chair, Bill Ritchie, Marsha Sawyer, Marcus Sherburne, Ethan Townsend, & Stacy Vassar

Apologies: Amber Jaquith, Secretary, Emily Mattison, Claire McFarland, Bill Ritchie, Suna Stone, & Tara Tent

Approval of the Minutes:  Minutes from September 4, 2026 – Mary Charleston made a motion to approve, Alyse Millikan Seconded motion, all other members concurred

Guest: none

New Business:    

Chief Jason was welcomed as our New Chief/Director of Safety & Security and to his first meeting. Committee members introduced themselves and their departments.

Beta House Dumpster and Parking Concerns

Alyse Millikan reported concerns regarding dumpster placement near Beta House. The dumpsters are creating difficulty for vehicles entering and exiting the parking lot, resulting in some students parking on the adjacent grass areas.

Discussion:

  • Marcus Sherburne stated the dumpsters will remain in their current location.
  • Facilities removed rocks near the area to improve vehicle maneuverability.
  • The parking lot was originally designed for fewer vehicles than are currently using it.
  • A long-term proposal to repave the lot and relocate the entrance has previously been submitted through the capital planning process but would reduce available parking spaces.
  • Alternative parking areas are available, including the Vilas student lot and Gaine’s parking lot.

Outcome:

  • Facilities will continue monitoring the area and dumpster placement.
  • No immediate changes to dumpster location are planned.

Brewer Bookstore Solar Project

Bill Ritchie provided notice of a solar installation project scheduled to begin Monday, October 5.

Project Details:

  • Work will occur on the athletic-field side of the Brewer Bookstore.
  • The sidewalk area between the bookstore and athletic field will be closed to pedestrian traffic for approximately one week.
  • Contractors are expected to work daily from 7:00 a.m. until evening.
  • Safety barricades and fencing will be installed.
  • Nearby dumpsters will be relocated to accommodate the project.

Action:

  • Campus community should avoid the affected area during construction.

Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) Inspections

Ceyda Onaran Kartal provided an update on the annual OFPC inspections.

Status:

  • Inspections were conducted over a two-week period beginning in mid-September.
  • Inspection reports were received on October 1.
  • Results were significantly improved compared to the previous year.

Findings:

  • Most violations involved: 
    • Improper use of extension cords
    • Improper use of power strips with appliances such as refrigerators and microwaves
  • No significant high-risk violations were identified.

Next Steps:

  • Corrective action must be completed within one month.
  • Follow-up inspections will be scheduled in coordination with Residence Life and Facilities.
  • Ceyda thanked Residence Life and Facilities staff for their assistance before and during the inspection process.

Old Business: 

62 Park Street Parking Lot Safety Concerns

Ceyda provided an update regarding concerns raised during the September meeting about the entrance to the 62 Park Street parking lot.

Completed Actions:

  • Dumpsters obstructing visibility and access were relocated.
  • Facilities repaired a large pothole near the entrance.

Remaining Actions:

  • Installation of signage encouraging reduced vehicle speeds is still under consideration.
  • Additional traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps, may be evaluated if concerns persist.

Current Status:

  • No new complaints have been reported since the corrective actions were completed.

Tabled:

Closed: Meeting adjourned 0821

  • Future Meetings: The Safety Committee meetings will continue to be the first Friday of the month starting in October from 8:00-9:00 a.m.: 11/06/26, 12/04/26, 02/05/27, 03/05/27, 04/02/27, 05/07/27, & 06/04/27.

Meetings will continue to be held on Teams with the link included in the announcement/agenda the week of the meeting for the community.