October 2016 Senior Staff Notes

MARYLAND PARK SERVICE

SENIOR STAFF MEETING NOTES

October 12, 2016

Gambrill Tea Room

Attendees: Nita Settina, Chris Bushman, Amanda Mock, Mary Owens, Mike Riley, Christy Bright, Steve McCoy, Alison Woodfield, Donnie Oates, Robin Melton

(next meeting’s manager-of-the-month – Central Region)

REGIONAL REPORTS

• Southeastern

1.     Janes Island – Cabin upgrades delayed to spring 2017. Furniture will be purchased now. Dennis Smith will work with Mary Owens.

2.     Pocomoke River – Things are going well with new manager and staff.

3.     Still a lot of flooding on the lower shore, with road and bridge closures.

4.     Sandy Point – Meeting with CRAB staff next week, to discuss Use Agreement and other issues of mutual interest.

5.     Sandy Point – Meeting held with allied law enforcement agencies to discuss plans for traffic control on roadways outside of park on summer weekends. Senior staff to continue discussions about managing traffic issues at busy day use parks.

6.     Belt Woods – Sandy Point staff worked with WHS to prepare for public hunting on the property.

• Central

1.     Fair Hill – Staff preparing for FHI 3-day event this weekend.

2.     Elk Neck – Site visits planned to tour potential new properties.

3.     Falling Branch – Nita and Steve to visit site with park staff.

4.     Gunpowder Falls – Working to complete Strategic Management Plan for Jerusalem Village / Central Area.

5.     Patapsco Valley – Playground installation issues have been resolved.

6.     Seneca Creek – Howard County Iron Bridge Hounds – finalizing the signing of a Use Agreement; still need additional information about trails.

7.     Seneca Creek – Staff working with LAP on boundary recovery training, to develop a team approach to boundary recovery projects in the park and throughout the region.

• Western

1.     New Germany – Cabin 1 having structural problems with the driveway. Main beam in Cabin 11 has split; waiting for contractor.

2.     New Germany – Staff reviewing Trail Wayfinding Program and working on updates to trails.

3.     Herrington Manor – Lake being drawn down to winter level. Dam repairs will be completed while lake level is lowered.

4.     Cunningham Falls – Dealing with Scabies and bed bugs. Treatment has started.

5.     Fort Frederick – Governor Hogan to present citation to Kevin Zeigler this week. Region’s managers and park staff will attend.

2017 Employee Field Day – Wednesday, September 27, 2017 – Hosted by Southeast Region

REVIEW OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY

• How do we measure success? Settina would like to set a goal for customer service satisfaction (e.g. 90 %).

Close Quarters Defense (CQD) Training (Melton)

• Updated senior staff on potential new training program recommended by the NRP (all NRP recruits / cadets now attending).
• Melton, Woodfield and Frank conducted site visit to CQD facility.
• Senior staff reviewed / discussed proposal.
• Melton will develop a training plan and budget.
• Regional Managers to discuss plan / prioritization for CQD for MPS with their managers at regional meetings.

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS (Owens)

• 253 projects for internal review in 2016 – 80% MPS projects.
• Chapel Point State Park Strategic Management Partnership Plan out for public comment.
• Initial Strategic Management plans have been reviewed by Mary, Nita and LeeAnne.
• New MCC crews are in place at seven parks, with 33 out of 35 members on board.
• MCC Fall Project: HWA treatments at New Germany.
• Pollinator Project at Point Lookout being led by Melissa Boyle.
• Veterans Conservation Corps interviews to be conducted in the near future. Crew will be based out of Point Lookout, and also working at Newtowne Neck, Greenwell, etc.
• Melissa and Fred attended Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism (GOSV) meeting. The GOSV will have regional conference in June.
• AmeriCorps / MCC – Looking at potential changes in grant cycle year (from September to August).
• Proposals for Gittings-Baldwin house (Gunpowder Falls) are in – Curatorships.
• Healthy Parks / Healthy People - 79 programs (1,400 participants).
• Caroline County Health Department would like to initiate a HP / HP program this year at Tuckahoe State Park.
• Park Quest refresh – Ideas for revised / refreshed program being developed.
• Trash-Free Parks – Working on new signs (and brochure?). Trash-Free Parks messages to be redistributed. Each park is to develop a Trash-Free Parks operational plan.

ADMINISTRATION (Mock)

• Commute Vehicles – Reminder: As per DBM policy, state vehicles are not to be taken to private residences unless an exception has been obtained (very limited). Can be taken home on a one-time basis with approval from manager (e.g. evening meetings, travel to off-site location the next day).
• Employee Viewpoint Survey – Will be sent out next week.
• Managed Hunt Costs: All parks which require the Managed Hunt Permit (MHP) are to track costs associated with the hunting program – submitted to WHS for reimbursement from revenue from sale of MHP.
• New training website! Any feedback from staff?
• Maryland Environmental Service (MES) meeting follow-up – Annual meeting with senior staff and MES staff to discuss issues, projects, budget, etc.
• Social Media – One member of MPS Social Media Team identified as contact during emergency weather events – designated for one year – currently Michelle Ramirez.
• Budget Update – Getting close to finalizing budget needs. Mock will continue working with Regional Managers and programs.
• Vehicles – Continuing to work with DBM on vehicle replacements.
• Fees for special events – What are Park Managers charging for special event fees? Regional managers will talk to managers to collect information.
• NASPD State Park Leadership School – MPS to send two staff.
• Fall 2017 Ranger School – Working on selection of Dean Staff.

• Day-Use Survey – Almost ready to launch!
• Succession Planning and Hiring Update – Recruitments for several positions are closing soon and interviews will follow.

DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE (Bushman)

• 2016 MPS NRP Officer of Year nominations being accepted. Be thinking about an NRP Officer who helped to make our State Parks awesome!
• Transport of Firewood – Seek input / approval from Forest Service before moving any firewood from one park to another. Continue to reinforce policy with visitors.
• Emergency Response Plan Updates – Things (e.g. staff) change quickly. May 1 (prior to hurricane season) will be date of annual check to ensure that all ERPs are up to date. Quarterly reminder will also be sent out, so that updates can be done regularly.
• Managers to act on quarterly reminders (from Barb Knisely) to review and update park websites. All are to be reviewed, but many are out of date.
• Dam safety workshops – Several staff attending.
• Tracking Inventory Holds – Parks need to be attentive to removing holds on facilities when project dates change, etc. Monthly report of holds to managers from reservation system may help, but will rely first and foremost on managers. Regional Managers will remind Park Managers to check on status of holds and projects frequently.
• Policy Issues
• Pet Policy
• All Park Managers to review their current pet policy and submit any requested changes through their Regional Manager.
• Greenbrier has requested a change in the date restriction for their beach area (Memorial Day to Labor Day rather than May 1 to September 30), to be consistent with most other parks.
• Assateague inquiring about limiting the number of pets in a campsite – Regional Managers to seek feedback from Park Managers.
• Designated areas for fires / grills – To be discussed at November Managers Meeting. May be topic for Day-Use Work Group.

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE (Settina)

• Reviewed minutes from September senior staff meeting.
• Customer service promise posters are up in parks.
• Please remind staff to complete Employee Viewpoint Survey.
• Maryland Charity Campaign – Matt Tillet will lead managers in 22 for 22 push-up challenge. All MPS staff is encouraged to contribute to the Campaign.
• Fall Managers Meeting – Senior staff reviewed DRAFT agenda, including work projects and field trips.
• Camp Host Sites – Need to be taken off hold when hosts are gone for the season, so that campers can reserve electric sites.