November Senior Staff Notes

MARYLAND PARK SERVICE

SENIOR STAFF MEETING NOTES

November 5, 2014

ATTENDEES: Nita Settina, Chris Bushman, Gary Burnett, Amanda Mock, Daryl Anthony, Mike Riley, Peyton Taylor, Margit Pruett, Diane Feheley (next meeting’s manager-of-the-month – Southeast Region)

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE

• First Day Hikes
• Please encourage your managers to sponsor a hike
• Simplicity is the key to a good hike. Remember that the goal is to hike – some interpretation is good, but focus on the hiking (moving, not standing J)
• Make it as scenic as possible
• Can combine effort with local hiking club or other organization
• PEP
• Continue to plan / schedule reviews to be completed by mid-December, taking employees’ holiday leave schedules into account
• Hunting in State Parks
• General discussion about policy and the potential for areas where hunting can be expanded, focusing on resource management

DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE

• Nominations for MPS / NRP 2014 Officer of the Year
• Provide to Bushman before end of year
• Policy Issues
• Pet Policy
• Provide Regional Manager with suggestions for any amendments to the current policy
• Electronic cigarettes
• No current restrictions in State Parks – will follow lead of Health Departments / whatever State policy is developed
• Seasonal NRP Officer program
• Recruitment complete
• Number to be hired is limited in the first year, so we will be implementing a pilot program at an individual park

REGIONAL PROGRAM REPORTS

• Southeast
• Working with E&C on color selection for bathhouses at Janes Island and Pocomoke River – Will standardize with our branding colors
• Firewood and firewood sales – still getting complaints about quality / pricing
• Staff should be looking for opportunities to assist campers who appear to be struggling with starting their campfire
• Review pricing / profit margin and lower prices where feasible
• Goal is to provide a service, especially since we do not allow outside firewood
• Central
• Soldiers Delight
• Managed hunting program (archery, shotgun and muzzleloader during the regular season) has been initiated
• Response to ecological emergency related to globally rare plants and the threat posed by an overabundance of deer
• West
• Night mountain biking
• Increasingly popular
• Apply procedures already in place for organized night rides
• Goose management
• Issue at Deep Creek Lake – Working with WHS on solutions
• Comments about Campgrounds – Customer Satisfaction Survey
• Check with your managers for interest in piloting a natural (non-gravel) portion of the camp pad for tent campers
• Check with your managers regarding selectively removing a few campsites to give campers more privacy

ADMINISTRATION

• Recruitment Update
• Job Fairs – PSA (Rangers) and Park Technicians
• Positive feedback
• Will do it again with some adjustments
• Applications are coming in – 260 received in 2 days
• Onboarding and Offboarding Employees
• We have put together a tool kit to welcome new employees and transition employees when they leave
• Additional materials now available to managers (checklist)
• Developed exit interview questions and requirements for departing employees (returning ID badge, uniform parts, keys, etc.)
• Budget Update
• Managers developed recommendations for priority needs for FY2015
• Park budgets for FY2015 have been supplemented
• Equipment, vehicle and supplies lists have been developed

SUPPORT SERVICES

• Ranger School
• Fall 2015 – Western Region
• Maryland Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA)
• Encourage membership
• Provides networking opportunities with allied Parks and Recreation agencies
• Registration is on-line
• Contact Burnett with any questions
• Equipment Purchasing
• Working to consolidate specifications for purchasing
• Will use priority list for heavy equipment / tables and grills
• Nine vehicles were delivered and should be ready to deliver to parks soon