May 2017 Senior Staff Notes

MARYLAND PARK SERVICE

SENIOR STAFF MEETING NOTES

May 3, 2017

Broadneck - Annapolis

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

[next meeting’s manager-of-the-month (July) – Southeast]

REGIONAL REPORTS

• Western

1.     Ranger Recruitment – Bright asked for status / timeline for Ranger Recruitment. Details still being finalized, but the PSA recruitment is now going to be an open recruitment. Goal is still to post the recruitment in May.

2.     Hazardous Tree / Chainsaw Refresher Course – Group discussed need for annual in-service refresher course, similar to EMR / firearms, and will work with Robin Melton and the Training Division staff to develop the course.

3.     Branded Forms – Bright asked for volunteers from each region to be on the work group to further develop the forms proposed by Erin Thomas.

4.     First Day Hike Pin – Rhode Island gives First Day Hike participants a pin to celebrate their involvement in First Day Hikes. MPS will look into designing a sticker (similar to “I Voted” stickers) for all FDH participants.

5.     Long-Term Contractual Positions – Managers in the West have been asking for long-term contractual positions to fill gaps in parks. Mock will need more information about need for positions. Will be primarily looking at part-time, year-round positions, e.g. cabin cleaners, administrative positions and maintenance staff. Requests can be made on a park-by-park basis.

• Southeast

1.     Youth Groups – Fee for groups staying in Youth Group sites who do not have a Youth Group Pass. Some parks are charging $2 per person, per night and others are charging $3. Youth group pass is $75.00. Groups with the pass do not pay any fees. If a group does not have a Youth Group Pass, each camper pays $2. Mock will draft a memo for the field to provide clarification and non-passholder youth group camping fee will be added to MPS service charge list.

2.     Beach / Waterfront Plans – Most are finished. 2016 Beach Audits being reviewed to ensure that there are no repeat deficiencies.

3.     Potential acquisitions – Riley going to Langford Creek property with LAP. Property is in Kent County. Will also be visiting waterfront property on the Pocomoke River (former golf course).

4.     Guide to Hunting and Trapping – MPS staff from all regions is attending meeting today to review 2017-2018 Guide.

5.     Love Point – Security issues on the property. Riley will follow up with NRP counterparts to determine next steps for NRP presence on the property.

6.     Sandy Point – Riley is working with Cooper to develop staffing plan to fill gaps created by recent vacancies.

• Central

1.     No Fires and Grills sign developed by Planning team.

2.     Fair Hill – Barb has the material for the website update.

3.     Narcan / Naloxone – The Department is looking into determining appropriate staff to have training and carry Narcan. NRP will be the first and only staff to be approved to use it for now. MPS staff to stand by on any further plans for training.

4.     Gunpowder – Having trouble recruiting lifeguards this season.

REVIEW OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY

• Please make sure Parks are posting Day-Use Survey information and sharing it with special event participants, etc.
• After receiving complaints from visitors about not being allowed to swim on hot spring days, Settina would like feedback from Managers of beach parks about schedule for installing swim ropes (putting out earlier in the season and leaving them in longer, based on weather conditions). Trying to find balance between safety (restricting to swimming area, hypothermia) and allowing reasonable use.

REVIEW OF VISITATION / ATTENDANCE REPORTING

ADMINISTRATION (Mock)

• Mock introduced new CFO Lauren Plocharczyk to Senior Staff.
• Personnel – Long-term contractual positions (see above). Park Managers need to route requests through Regional Managers and not go directly to Tawes support staff.
• MRPA Leadership Institute – Thank you for recommendations for candidates to participate. Selected employees will be notified.
• Lateral Transfers (Rangers) – Regional Managers will confer to develop plan for lateral transfers, including timing, to finalize locations of Ranger vacancies for upcoming recruitment. Regional Managers will provide information to Bushman by May 15.
• FY 2017 – Thanks to parks for providing updated budget information. End of FY is approaching. Senior Staff had meeting yesterday with DNR colleagues to discuss revenue vs. expenses. Were granted flexibility / access to additional funds, which will be used to purchase heavy equipment / supplies and materials for critical maintenance projects, and other much-needed items (e.g. cabin mattresses, picnic tables and grills).
• Inventory – Parks need to complete inventory. Only 9 parks are complete and the deadline has passed. Mock sent Regional Managers list of parks still missing.
• Electronic Park Passes – Looking for feedback from OOS about cost of transaction fees. NPS is currently paying their transaction fees.
• Cash Handling – Please follow the cash handling procedures in your park, in particular the procedures for transporting cash promptly and directly to a secure location. This helps to ensure safety and protection for staff.

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS (Owens)

• Project reviews ongoing – 149 to date. Reviews still involve structures – most will likely not be approved.
• Cypress Branch (Wick property) – Hope is to separate the house from the property.
• Belt Woods – SMP comments received / being reviewed.
• Strategic Management Plans – Three plans are complete (New Germany, Smallwood and Fort Frederick) and have been sent to the OOS for approval.
• HWA / EAB Treatment – Scheduled to start HWA next week and EAB in two weeks. Luke Mongrain and Mike Burditt are doing an excellent job coordinating the efforts.
• Park Quest – 773 groups registered by noon on Wednesday (May 3).
• Employee Recognition Committee – A lot of awards scheduled for presentation at the May Managers Meeting. Committee to present recommendations at the June senior staff retreat. Creating a template award nomination form.
• Update Hall of Fame Area in Tawes – Owens plans to work with staff to update Ranger School photos and other materials in the hallway near the elevator.
• Please update Owens with needs for Trash-Free Parks signs and bag dispensers (CJC will be building dispensers).
• Rodney Staab will coordinate Trash-Free Parks bag distribution from Sandy Point. Southeast parks need to arrange for pick up.

DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE (Bushman)

• Policy Issues
• Proposal for new mentoring / apprenticeship program for seasonal employees who are interested in a career with MPS. Senior staff will continue to discuss.
• Visitor / Staff Safety Policies and Procedures – At the request of the OOS, Bushman created a list and shared with senior staff. To be shared with Park Managers as a reference (list of competencies). Pocket guide work group should consider items on list as possible topics for inclusion in the Guide.
• Emergency Response Plans – Updates completed (ready for hurricane season).
• CQD – Settina and Melton visited the facility and had a positive experience learning about the program. MPS is interested in piloting this program in FY18. Senior staff and training staff will set up a meeting with CQD owner to begin planning.
• New Facility PINs and LTC Positions – It has been decades since we routinely received new staff when we acquire new facilities. MPS will continue to acquire new properties for resource conservation and recreation, and we need to develop a strategy to acquire new positions to effectively operate the areas. Regional Managers will indicate staffing needs as appropriate when providing comments for Stewardship Reviews.

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE (Settina)

• Friends of State Parks were successful in having May 2017 proclaimed as Maryland State Parks Month. MPS social media team will be promoting.
• Want to establish work group to address enhancements to historical interpretation in State Parks. This historic sites work group will develop a plan to identify goals related to historical sites and interpretation, living history, etc. To be discussed at June retreat.
• June Senior Staff Retreat – Location will be Hoffman House on Wye Island.
• May Managers Meeting – Agenda is finalized. Before lunch, everyone will walk to the end of the crystal pier to take a group photo. Woodfield will send out final agenda.
• Questions about donation boxes in Parks. Bushman detailed existing MPS policy about putting out donation boxes (MPS and Friends). We can set up a PCA code to deposit donations and money collected can be used in that park for operations / maintenance.
• Review April Senior Staff Meeting – All tasks have been completed.