November 2021 Senior Staff Meeting Notes

 MARYLAND PARK SERVICE

SENIOR STAFF MEETING NOTES

November 10, 2021

Via Google Hangout Meeting

 

Attendees: Nita Settina, Amanda Mock, Mary Owens, Christy Bright, Steve McCoy, Andrew Hangen, Cineva Smith, and Patrick Bright. (Next Visiting Manager of the Month – Central)

REGIONAL REPORTS

East – Andrew Hangen

 

·         Janes Island – Cleanup of the water-inundated administrative building is ongoing. Discussion about the Nature Center potentially serving as the administrative building in the future and seeking funding to replace/expand the existing structure.

·         Bill Burton Fishing Pier – Bridge structure is no longer safe for certain activities, including vehicle use. This presents a maintenance challenge for staff (e.g. Closing the park and picking up trash). We are still waiting for the A&E to release its underwater findings.

·         Cypress Branch – Making progress on the road; the shop/office space is being renovated; and staff will create the picnic area in future. Discussion about installation of the park entrance sign, flowering native trees at the entrance, and perhaps cypress trees. The Park is expected to open in Spring 2022.

 

Western – Christy Bright

 

·         Fort Frederick – The new gate installation is occurring today. Archery deer hunting is going smoothly.

·         Deep Creek Lake – Discussion about seasonal staffing needs and challenges as well as staffing of the Discovery Center.

·         Wolf Den Run – Campground management procurement was posted on eMMA.

·         Gambrill / Cunningham Falls – Discussion about pinpointing and addressing the problematic run off into Hunting Creek from adjacent private lands. Mary Owens will contact leadership of Chesapeake and Coastal Services about assistance.

·         Camp Baker / Sideling Hill – A meeting was recently held with the Natural Resources Police (NRP) on development of a use agreement for their use of a specified area. It was clarified that NRP had to maintain the building and MPS staff would have access to it for trainings/events. 

 

South – Patrick Bright

·         Point Lookout/Greenwell State Parks – Repairs associated with the recent flooding - including addressing significant damage to docks - are ongoing. 

·         Southern Maryland Recreational Complex – Anxiously waiting for completion of recruitment for two classified vacancies (PMPS and Administrative Specialist) at the complex.

·         Franklin Point – Recently held a successful community workday to address a variety of lingering issues.

·         Chapman – Discussion about strategies for stabilizing temperatures in the Mount Aventine manor house.

 

Central – Steve McCoy

           

·         Patapsco Valley –The Simpkins property owner may convert the property into a parking lot to create a revenue stream. Steve McCoy has reached out to Howard County twice on parking on Landing Road near the Cascade Trail, no response to date. Steve McCoy will contact Trinity Church, in the Grove Mount Community, to discuss potential parking access. The Offutt Visitor Center had a soft opening last weekend. Discussion about development of a landscaping plan (seek a grant or friends support) and interpretation plan for around the visitor center.

·         North Point – Significant damage was sustained by the Crystal Pier (pavers and patio area slabs) as a result of the recent storm surge. DNR E&C is working on repairs.

·         Seneca Creek – Deer population assessment tools (FLIR) have been purchased to better monitor local herds.

All Regions

 

·         MPS Staff Awards - Discussion about various awards and improving the award submission documentation process.

·         The 2021 park attendance tracking spreadsheet indicates approximately 18.2 million visitors to date. The to-date park closure total remains at 170, compared to 285 by this time last year (and 101 in 2019).

·         The October customer service survey results were reviewed. 

·         Park Inspection Reports – The Regional Managers should be working with Park Managers to develop updated Park Inspection Reports using the new form.

 

CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAMS – Patrick Bright

·         Conservation Corps staff are meeting with the Student Conservation Association later today to discuss operations, management, and short-term tasks.   

·         Discussion about the need to further define and expand the existing mentoring intern program.

 

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS – Mary Owens

 

·         To date, 352 projects have been submitted for project review in 2021. There have been some delays with more complex projects that involve LAP and OAG review.

·         New Winter Work Plan Form – Please use the new form developed by Erin Thomas.

·         History – New Sandy Point history website nearly completed. Discussion about the importance of working with the Maryland Historical Trust on the development of historical interpretation materials/structures.

·         Interpretation – Significant effort being made to develop the Sandy Point Nature Center interpretive materials and infrastructure. Several Park Quest 2022 themes are being considered. 

·         Strategic Management Plans – The status of various draft plans has not changed over the past month. 

 

 

ADMINISTRATION – Amanda Mock

·         Finance –The FY 2022 park/program Google budget projection spreadsheets were developed and should be kept up to date. Any large, unexpected costs should be discussed with Regional Managers. The Department of Budget and Management is reviewing our proposed FY 2023 operating budget information and requesting additional data.

·         Park Reservation Service – DNR will seek Board of Public Works approval for a two-year contract extension with CAMIS. This approach will provide additional time to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment.

·         Personnel – Discussion about the status of various recruitments and HRS not posting several requested contractual recruitments.

·         Training – There has been an unusually high rate of cancellations/ no shows for training sessions, especially the EMR challenges.  Park staff should do their very best to follow through with commitments when signing up for training sessions.

·         Price v. Barr Supreme Court Case – This case focused on videographers in National Parks and did not extend to still photography. The court determined that low-impact filming should be exempt from advance notice and permit requirements. The National Park Service has defined “low-impact” as outdoor filming activities in areas open to the public (excluding areas managed as wilderness), consisting of groups of five persons or fewer, and involving equipment carried at all times, except for small tripods used to hold cameras. In light of this court case, Park Managers should follow the National Park Service’s general approach to videography requests and permits. Edits will likely be made to the MPS Filming Policy to clarify this. For more information see: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/02-22-21-interim-guidance-for-filming-in-parks.htm

 

TRAINING DIVISION UPDATE – Cineva Smith

·         Ranger Smith provided a summary of the Ranger School lessons learned and recommendations submitted by recent participants. There was a discussion about the EMR training status and challenges. In 2022, the Training Division plans to conduct a training needs assessment, take a fresh look at the MPS firearms policy, and develop additional emergency response reference documentation for parks.

 

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE

·         Fall Managers Meeting – Discussion about the agenda, auction, and work project activities.

·         The October 2021 Senior Staff Meeting Notes were reviewed.