2018 May Senior Staff Notes

MARYLAND PARK SERVICE

SENIOR STAFF MEETING NOTES

May 2, 2018

Broadneck Office, Annapolis, MD

Attendees: Nita Settina, Chris Bushman, Amanda Mock, Mary Owens, Mike Riley, Christy Bright, Steve McCoy, Alison Woodfield, Mary Ironside [next meeting’s manager-of-the-month (July) – Central]

REGIONAL REPORTS

Southeast - Riley

·        Servicing Vehicles / Element – Reminder to follow up with Debbie Nagel if, when taking vehicles in for service, work is done beyond that which is requested. Process is for vendor to seek approval from Element who, in turn, seeks approval from Debbie Nagel, who approves it after checking with the manager.

·        Settina met with Crisfield mayor to discuss water / sewer hook-up for Murray House at Janes Island, issues at Somers Cove Marina (Boating Services) and advertising events in Town. Riley to follow up with Janes Island staff.

Central - McCoy

·        10-year-old girl fell into an unused well pit at Patapsco, after she and others managed to remove a locked cover that had become damaged / unsecured. The incident serves as a good reminder to inspect all areas of parks for hazards that can be potentially dangerous to park visitors.

·        Days Cove – internal meeting to discuss amending the deed associated with a prior approved vertical expansion of the rubble fill, to clarify that upon close-out of the operation, construction or excavation cannot begin without first obtaining written authorization from the Secretary of MDE.

·        Equipment – Temby proposed purchasing specialized equipment for invasive species removal. Suydam to investigate possible purchase. Settina would also like to solicit input from DNR Heritage staff.

·        Employee Field Day – Wednesday, September 26 – Pickall area of Patapsco Valley. Central Region staff planning, including adding a mountain biking opportunity and overnight camping.

West – Bright

·        Wolf Den Run State Park – staff is working on a trail assessment with consultant, who will present MPS with trail inventory (number of trails, miles, difficulty). MPS will schedule a presentation in Annapolis when assessment is complete. Staff has been in contact with the local community to let them know the assessment is taking place and there will be activity on the property. Settina would like staff to start thinking about master plan development, grant agreement with OHVA, etc.

·        Hashers (“drinking club with a running problem”) – group uses flour on trees, rocks, signs, etc. to mark trails. Cunningham Falls staff has found the flour marks in the Manor Area, and they may appear at other parks.

·        Greenbrier dam update – (Ironside)

o   After discussion with MDE, staff adjusted the sluice gate to address a blockage preventing the gate from being shut completely.

o   Ironside reviewed issues with sediment pond and current lake level.

o   No campground closing / complete lake loss is anticipated at this time.

o   Swimming in the lake will be unavailable for this summer, and likely next year as well. Exploring options for wading.

o   Ironside is working on contingency operational plan. She has communicated with Robin Melton to plan for modified swim / wading area. Proposed / potential area has been fenced off (vs. buoys / rope lines) to define the wading area.

o   Lifeguards will be roving on the expanded “beach” in the new wading area.

o   Staff will complete an addendum to the current Aquatic Resources Management Plan.

o   Ironside will be drafting a communications plan, to identify talking points and ensure consistency of message.

Reviewed April Customer Satisfaction / Day-Use Survey Results

1.      Settina inquired about consistency of application of check-in time policy. Everyone is reminded that the check-in time is our guarantee of the time the site will be available, not a restriction on staff in being able to accommodate early arrivals if the site is ready and there are not circumstances which warrant having them wait until the official check-in time.

2.      Assignment for everyone: Install hooks / shelves in mini-cabins!

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE (Nita Settina)

·        Review April Senior Staff Notes

o   Falling Branch parking lot update from McCoy.

o   MCC completing tree planting project (700 trees) at Merkle.

o   Scales & Tales – policy for naming of animals clarified.

·        May Managers Meeting – Agenda finalized

o   Town Hall Meetings – Settina will work with Robin Melton on a blog to compile notes (action items) from Town Hall Meetings. Mock / Owens will work with their teams to formulate a list of outcome items from the “subject matter expert” discussions.

o   Updates from Senior Staff – to end the meeting (including kick-off of summer season).

·        Park Quest registration opened (and closed) yesterday, with 1,000 spots filled by 1700 hours.

·        Senior Staff retreat planning – (Blue Heron House at Wye Island).

·        Settina and Ironside attended SORP (Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals) Conference in Burlington, VT last week. PA is drafting an ecological impacts policy to address financial compensation related to oil and gas extraction (fracking). NIC provided day-use advance ticket sales presentation (currently used by some National Parks).

·        Settina noted forecast for higher gas prices this coming summer, which may result in increased attendance due to “staycation” phenomenon.

DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE (Chris Bushman)

·        Policy Issues – none brought forward for discussion.

·        Alcohol Permits / Reservation System – Policy will remain the same, in that managers retain discretion to issue alcohol permits within time frame that works for their operation.

·        Filled to capacity park closures – When is a park full? Parks / areas should not be reported as filled / closed unless / until all options for accommodating visitors have been exhausted, i.e. all parking area options are offered to visitors at the contact station.

·        Incident Notification / Email Subject Lines – Email is preferred method for making notifications to State Duty Officer. When doing so, all are reminded to use a subject line that clearly / accurately describes the incident and location.

·        Emergency Response Plans / Dam Emergency Action Plans – Regional Managers will follow up to ensure that all Dam EAPs (deadline already passed) and ERPs (deadline June 1) are posted on the P Drive.

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS (Mary Owens)

·        To date, 150 projects are in review. Managers to contact Mary’s team if they feel that any projects have slipped through the cracks.

·        Planning Projects – Wrapping up Belt Woods and Chapel Point; Bohemia River and Cypress Branch are in process.

·        Critical Maintenance list – FY19 projects have been approved – no more changes. FY20 projects are being reviewed for funding. Regional Managers to follow up with managers to review list and forward any corrections / additions / deletions to Owens by June 15.

·        Much-needed paving projects have been added to the FY19 list.

·        Settina would like to see major bathhouse renovation projects include solar power.

·        Trash-Free Parks Program – English and Spanish versions of the signs have been delivered to Sandy Point and are ready for pick up.

·        Picnic tables and grills are being delivered to parks! Remember to notify HQ administrative contacts of delivery, for tracking purposes.

·        Trail signs – wood routed vs. carsonite posts – parks may use wood routed signs on shorter trails near developed areas, and carsonite posts in more remote locations.

ADMINISTRATION (Amanda Mock)

·        Drivers of State Vehicles – Mock met with Bob Bender to review signing of driver acknowledgement forms by all staff. Mock and Bender brainstormed ideas to improve the process, to ensure that all employees who drive state vehicles have current forms on file. MPS is suggesting that DNR-wide direction be developed / distributed. Managers should continue to use the current form for all drivers, including seasonals, until further direction. Robin Melton posted the most current form online.

·        Hundreds of seasonal contracts being processed.

·        Mock and Settina met with HR to strategize / generate ideas for improving diversity of hiring.

·        Ranger School dates have been set for this coming winter (February – Janes Island, with March at New Germany as alternative if cabins not available). Dean Staff has been identified and notified, and Robin Melton will be communicating with them.

·        Shift Differential – Mock discussed this with appropriate people in DNR, and will be distributing a reminder, to all staff, as to the proper procedures / application.

·        MS-22/PEPs – Follow-up discussion regarding direction received from HRS.

·        Budget Update – Regional managers tracking authorized park “overspending” and communicating that information to Mock / Buckmaster.

·        Directed maintenance funding provided to parks for park-generated projects needs to be spent ASAP, as close-out is nigh.

·        FY18 concession budgets – reminder to pay close attention to the budget as end of year approaches.

·        Uniform orders – some issues have been reported with the new ordering spreadsheet (related to older computers / new software). Regional managers need to review / approve the orders before they are sent to Tawes.

·        Budget close-out meeting with FAS in the next two weeks. Buckmaster will advise of dates / deadlines to finish spending, in anticipation for close out.

·        Working with the OC to update and improve MPS website pages, with four pilot parks (Rocky Gap, Assateague, Gunpowder, Point Lookout).

·        Park Passport – MPS has been tasked with collaborating with the MVA to make the Park Passport available with the vehicle registration process. Mock shared some of the new ideas for passes with senior staff. More to come.

·        CAMIS – Mock and staff are investigating various types of reports that can be run from the CAMIS system. Senior staff viewed some reports that have been run already.