Senior Staff Meeting Notes - January 2018

MARYLAND PARK SERVICE

SENIOR STAFF MEETING NOTES

January 10, 2018

Broadneck Office, Annapolis, MD

Attendees: Nita Settina, Chris Bushman, Amanda Mock, Mary Owens, Mike Riley, Christy Bright, Steve McCoy, Dana Paterra, Melissa Acuti, Tim Hamilton, Alison Woodfield (next meeting’s manager-of-the-month – Western)

REGIONAL REPORTS

Central – Steve McCoy

·        Fair Hill managed deer hunt went well. Staff did a great job of clearing snow and ice to ensure a safe and successful hunt. Harvest slightly lower, but generally consistent with past several years (45 deer taken by 91 hunters over the 2 days). Sweet Air, Hammerman and Seneca Creek hunts to be held in the coming week.

·        North Bay – Elk Neck staff has received requests for training sessions at North Bay. Current lease provides for nine days of use by the MPS annually. We already have three days reserved for the November Managers Meeting. Regional Managers to ask Park Managers to provide any requests, so that we can prioritize and plan for the remaining six days for the coming year.

·        Gittings-Baldwin (Gunpowder Falls) – Meeting set to discuss latest lease proposal.

·        Cameron property at Rocks continues to provide deer hunting opportunity. Kudos to Rocks staff!

·        Woodstock area of Patapsco Valley has been added to the park’s archery deer hunting program. Kudos to Patapsco Valley staff!

·        The frozen Kilgore Falls (Falling Branch area of Rocks) is getting media / social media attention, which is drawing summer-like crowds and associated illegal parking issues and complaints. Park staff is working with the NRP and Sheriff’s Office to address the problem.

Southeast – Mike Riley  

·        Eastern Shore and St. Mary’s County parks are still digging out from Winter Storm Grayson. Riley looking to add more snow removal equipment on the lower shore to deal with recent trends in winter weather.

·        Our partner at Mt. Airy Mansion (Rosaryville) is continuing to get requests for events and will be turning them away after November 2018, when he ends his management agreement. Plans are for major restoration on the mansion. Park staff working on a plan to assume full responsibility for park operations and maintenance.

·        Janes Island – Still waiting for renovations to begin; issue with contractors bidding on the jobs. Owens provided new information on sprinkler system (pressurized nitrogen mist) that does not require a large water tank and associated infrastructure.

·        Assateague staff to work with the NRP and allied law enforcement agencies on security plans for large special events, e.g. Seagull Century bike race.

·        Dana Paterra provided a status update and report on the first year of operations at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park. Visitation since the grand opening on March 10 was just under 100,000. Paterra is working closely with tourism agencies for future planning. Staff is tallying visitor logs to determine where visitors come from (all 50 states are represented, as well as many countries). Pavilion is now on the CAMIS reservation system, and staff is also receiving many inquiries for use of the multi-purpose room. One-year anniversary plans are underway (March 10-11).

West - Christy Bright

·        Interim Operational Plan template is nearing completion. Staff is working on IOPs for Wills Mountain, North Hills (Wolfden Run?), and also Bohemia River (Central Region / Fair Hill).

·        Research into origin of Wolfden Run name ongoing, as first step toward naming the North Hills properties in Garrett County.

·        With Al Preston’s impending retirement, Roy Musselwhite will be Acting Park Manager at Deep Creek Lake State Park effective January 20.

·        Door decals for vehicles – Still awaiting door decals from MCE (first order incorrect size).

Group reviewed 2018 visitation data and noted changes in some parks. Regional managers will follow up with staff. Bushman again distributed the Attendance Reporting Procedures as a reminder for the new year. 2016 spreadsheet has been locked and 2017 sheet will be locked by the end of January. Overall, senior staff is very happy with attendance reporting statewide. Keep up the good work, and remember to indicate review / approval of the monthly figures and provide appropriate comments / notes.

Reviewed December Customer Satisfaction Survey comments. Survey results show a high number of visitors who are very satisfied with our customer service.

Picnic tables / grills are being rated much lower in customer satisfaction (pavilion rentals). Regional managers will discuss the issue at Regional Meetings, including the use of additional FY18 funding, already provided to the parks, for this purpose.

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS (Mary Owens)

·        Project Review – Planning staff continues to work with park staff regarding the type of projects that require project review.

·        Healthy Parks / Healthy People – program is doing well, with just under 2,000 people attending over 400 programs, and 82 prescriptions written by physicians. Senior staff to receive an update on the program and plans for future development. We will be continuing the program, coordinated by Chief of Interpretation Melissa Acuti, which can take many forms (parks do not have to apply all program parameters, such as DHMH grants, to be part of program). 

·        Group discussed creating a State Park database, detailing all activities / amenities available at each State Park. Woodfield will follow up.

·        Park Quest Update (Acuti) Park Quest…the Quest Continues.

o   Targeting start date for 2018 as May 1 / June 1.

o   Acuti would like to support park staff as they develop Quests so our Questers can expect the same quality from park to park.

o   Postcard in Quest booklet that can be mailed in for a prize?

o   Park Quest will have a new logo – working with the OC.

o   Discussion about printing books vs. offering an online version of the booklet (participation limit and fee waiver will likely require printed version).

o   Participation will still be limited to 1,000 families.

o   Quests will still require stamps / rubbings to document completion.

o   Day-Use Survey link will appear on the Park Quest booklet.

ADMINISTRATION (Amanda Mock)

·        FY18 - Budget information and updates need to be in the system by next week.

·        FY19 – Waiting for information about upcoming budget. Legislative session began today. Governor to submit budget to General Assembly on Wednesday, January 17.

·        Lauren Buckmaster has completed a new version of the uniform order for testing. The hope is that this new, compact form will be more user-friendly for staff in the field. Thanks Lauren!

·        Seasonal Recruitments – Some parks now have seasonal job opportunities on the JobAps site. As in past years, the recruitments will remain posted for four weeks (Mock and team will work with Park Managers on extensions as needed).

·        Seasonal Hiring – Packets will be made available for staff. Forms are being updated.

·        Day-Use Survey documents were sent out to field staff as a reminder to post the survey in heavily visited areas of the park, during special events, etc.

·        Plans for Ranger School are pending hiring outlook / provisions of the upcoming budget. The Training Division will explore tentative dates in the fall of 2018 and start considering candidates for the next Dean’s Staff. All may be postponed if sufficient Ranger candidates are not available.

·        DNR has procured a new inventory system. Barb and Raquel will learn more in an upcoming meeting / training session.

·        Settina / Mock would like to see the spring in-service sessions (town hall meetings) be more along the lines of listening sessions. Regional managers will brainstorm with Park Managers at regional meetings on ideas / details of sessions.

·        Uniform orders are still delayed. Mock will follow up.

·        CAMIS Reservation System Meeting – Mock appreciates feedback from park staff about new reservation system and is already working on resolving issues that have come up.

o   Many parks have a large number of overflow campsites, which does have a negative impact on revenue. Regional managers will have a conversation with Park Managers about their overflow inventory to determine if we have the right number.

o   Regional Managers to discuss with Park Managers the possibility of making off-season reservations at the park, but still through the reservation system, to enable us to track all reservations / camping activity in one place.

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE (Nita Settina)

·        Settina asked if field staff is being provided with senior staff notes on a consistent basis. Regional Managers will reinforce intent to disseminate notes to all MPS employees (email, post on bulletin board, remind staff of posting on Training Division blog).

·        Review December Senior Staff Notes:

o   Kudos to Cunningham Falls for enhanced security for their maintenance shop.

o   Another reminder to follow up with staff on requirement to conduct Criminal History Records Checks (fingerprinting) for all classified, contractual, and volunteer staff who work with / have access to children (vast majority of all MPS employees).

·        Employee Recognition / Awards Program – Settina distributed Fishing and Boating Services’ awards program for ideas. Consideration of adjustments to the MPS Awards Program continues, with some amendments planned, including an online nomination form.

·        First Day Hikes – Good turnout despite the cold weather. Kudos to staff for providing this great opportunity for our visitors to kick off 2018!

·        Cleaning Allowance for Uniforms – Group discussed checking into possible mechanism for MPS to provide a uniform cleaning / maintenance allowance for uniformed personnel. Mock will look into it and get back to senior staff.

·        Reviewed Progress on June Senior Staff Retreat (Goals) – almost all goals have been achieved or are well underway!

·        Kudos to all staff for efficiently dealing with recent winter weather!

DEPUTY SUPERINTEDENT (Chris Bushman)

·        No additional policy issues were brought forth for discussion at this time.

·        2018 Pet Policy is completed and distributed. New State Parks (Sang Run and Bohemia River) were added to the policy chart.

·        2017 MPS NRP Officer of the Year – Bushman discussing nominees with NRP leadership and Settina to make selection.

·        Ice Safety – Regional managers have been provided with the MPS ice safety position and policy (assumption of risk) and will relay to Park Managers at regional meetings.

·        Add-on