MARYLAND PARK SERVICE
SENIOR STAFF MEETING NOTES
October 8, 2014
ATTENDEES: Nita Settina, Chris Bushman, Gary Burnett, Amanda Mock, Daryl Anthony,
Mike Riley, Peyton Taylor, Sarah Milbourne, Diane Feheley
SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE
• Training Opportunities
• November Managers Meeting
• Employee Viewpoint Survey Results
o MRPA Park and Program Summit / Delaware State Parks School
o For treatment of specimen Ash trees, it is recommended that we do a trunk
injection and not a soil drench
o Contact Tyler Wakefield in Forest Service for assistance
o Agenda / Work Projects / Field Trips finalized
o Overall rating improved from grade of B- to B grade
o Summary information will be posted in Training Division Newsletter
o Superintendent will present information at the November Managers Meeting
Information distributed by MPS Training Division
• Please extend the Superintendent’s appreciation to all staff for a great job on 1812
Bicentennial events, the Park Quest Rendezvous and Employee Field Day!
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE
• Walk-ins / Ride-ins Policy
o Intent of policy is to provide for reasonable exceptions for walkers / bicycle
riders, not to allow day-use visitors to circumvent applicable service charges
o Success depends on proper application of the spirit and intent of the policy, rather
than the black-and-white application of a rule
o Desire is to provide flexibility and the use of professional discretion by MPS
employees, whose good judgment will be supported
Continue to receive complaints from campers
Senior staff will review the issue / current policy
• Solicit input from managers and staff
• Speed humps / speed tables
o Issues with anchoring mechanism on devices installed at Sandy Point
o Should work well in a campground setting
Due to particular circumstances at Sandy Point
Are removable (e.g. for plowing)
Need warning signs 200 feet before the device
• Job Fairs – PSA (Ranger) and Park Technician Recruitments
o Should be explored as a solution in areas where speeding / complaints are a
o Questions directed to Gary Burnett
o Meet and greet sessions
October 29, 3:00 – 7:00 pm – North Point, Patapsco Valley HQ
October 30, 3:00 – 7:00 pm – Gunpowder Falls HQ, Morgan State
Please solicit staff to help staff these events
• Provide your list to Gary Burnett within the next week
Pre-posting of Ranger recruitment (not the actual open recruitment) may
be on JobAps very soon
• Sandy Point Solar / Wind Energy Project
o Ranger and Park Tech recruitments to be posted soon
o 10 Ranger positions and 4 Park Tech positions anticipated to be filled
o Submitted draft of final proposal – Board of Public Works in December
o Shop complex and select shelters will get solar panels
o Wind turbine at nature center / beach area
o New lights and hand dryers will be installed to reduce energy consumption
o Goal is 50% reduction in energy use
o 4-5 month construction time
Likely to be exceeded (anticipated $20,000 savings)
• Employee Leave Notification Procedures
o Supervisors should be planning now, so we’re not scrambling in December
o Handout – Draft policy being developed to ensure clarity and consistency
o Notification to be made to supervisor / Park Duty Officer
o Special promotional discounts cannot be accepted if they are being offered based
on status as state employee / MPS employee
o Prohibited by Public Ethics Law / State Personnel law
MONTHLY REGIONAL REPORTS
o Historic structures
• Need consistent guidelines / process to determine best use
• MPS / DNR currently working with MHT on inventory
• http://mht.maryland.gov/Survey_MIHP_Search.html
o ADA compliance inspections
• Being conducted by Office of Fair Practices
• Information to be used by MPS / E&C in planning future capital / critical
o Alternative vehicles (Gators, Mules)
• Interested in renting or leasing for peak times vs. purchase
maintenance projects
• Next steps
• Another round of building audits
• Solicit MEA grants (Burnett)
• Critical maintenance funding
o Alternative energy initiative success story – Deep Creek Lake
• Customer Satisfaction Survey
o Bathrooms and friendly staff (vs. rude staff) are a big contributor to happy
o Firewood – Once again, confirm that all locations have a sign advising that
o Ensure that all campground bathrooms have hooks and shelves
o Consider adding a small table in camper cabins
o Bathroom lighting shining into campsites – seek solutions (e.g. shrouds)
• Lights in parking lot replaced with LED lighting – significant savings
• Side benefit – LED lights do not attract insects
customers vs. unhappy customers
• Reminder that basic services are very important
wood may be returned if not satisfied (complaints of green / wet wood)
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