2020 May Senior Staff Meeting Notes

MARYLAND PARK SERVICE

SENIOR STAFF MEETING NOTES

May 6, 2020

Via Google Hangout Meeting

Attendees: Nita Settina, Chris Bushman, Amanda Mock, Mary Owens, Christy Bright, Steve McCoy, Patrick Bright, and Cineva Smith [next meeting’s manager-of-the-month – Central Region (pending)].

COVID-19 OPERATIONS – Nita Settina/Chris Bushman

Discussion about the status of operations, identifying priority seasonal hires, managing the rest of the FY 2020 budget year, review of park-specific recovery / reopening plans, and developing new operating procedures for contact stations / campgrounds / beaches in preparation for several possible scenarios for anticipated future actions related to Governor Hogan’s Maryland Strong Roadmap to Recovery.

The Governor’s 3:00 p.m. press conference announcements resulted in the Senior Staff meeting agenda being curtailed so that timely and necessary operational changes could be discussed.

REGIONAL REPORTS

Southeast – Patrick Bright

·         Discussed various aspects of COVID-19 related matters in the context of park operations.

Central – Steve McCoy

      

·         Falling Branch Day-Use Reservations – The first week went relatively smoothly. Still turned many cars away as visitors are informed of the early start to the implementation of the system.

·         Gunpowder Falls State Park – Discussion about efforts to work with watersports concession over the weekend to allow limited services at Dundee Creek Marina.

Western – Christy Bright

·         Cunningham Falls Water Bill – Discussion about excessive quarterly water bills and MES efforts to address water line infiltration.

·         Greenbrier – The status of the dam and related repairs was discussed.

The attendance reporting and customer satisfaction survey results were discussed and reviewed.

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS – Mary Owens

·         Project Review - Project review process is moving forward. To date, 127 projects are in the hopper.

·         Conservation Programs – The Veterans Conservation Corps (VCC) will be based out of Merkle NRMA in the future. The Conservation Jobs Corps (CJC) Program was cancelled for the summer. However, a modified CJC internship program, involving less than a dozen experienced CJC participants, is under development for this summer. 

·         Strategic Management Plans – Discussion about the status of various SMPs and most still being at the 80-90% completion stage.

·         Breeding Bird Survey – Working on a use agreement to allow complimentary access to State Parks for qualified volunteers to survey for breeding birds. It is an effort organized by the Maryland Ornithological Society in partnership with DNR (Wildlife and Heritage Service) and is a priority data gathering effort that will provide valuable information for years to come. Volunteers will have documentation stating they are involved in survey, so they can access parks free of charge.

TRAINING DIVISION UPDATE - Cineva Smith

·         2021 Ranger School – Discussion about alternative strategies and new March 2021 timing at New Germany State Park. Identifying which components could be transitioned to a virtual format.

·         CQD Self-Defense Training – Fall training dates have been reserved.

·         Virtual CORE Training – Training being scheduled for late May / early June for new employees.

·         EMS Transition – Working to transition from the costly American Heart Association certification over to American Red Cross. At MPS, 28 instructors will transition. American Red Cross provides all instructor materials and the information can be easily downloaded.

·         Discussion about hosting an EMS forum in the future and clarifying procedures in the COVID-19 era.

ADMINISTRATION – Amanda Mock

·         Budget – Park staff are encouraged to keep up with monthly updates of their FY 2020 budgets as posted in the projection spreadsheets.

·         Town Halls – Since three out of the five Town Hall meetings were cancelled, recordings of the Superintendent’s presentation and the Employee Viewpoint presentation will be sent to employees for their information.

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE – Nita Settina

·         Park Managers are strongly encouraged to hold weekly meetings with all staff to address operational issues, as well as general staff concerns.

·         April 2020 Senior Staff Notes were reviewed and several related follow-up items were discussed.

·         2020 Spring Managers Meeting – The agenda for the May 13 meeting was discussed.