July Senior Staff Notes

 

Senior Staff Meeting Notes from July 12, 2023

 

Attendees:  Angela Crenshaw, Daryl Anthony, Ken Miller, Mary Owens, Patrick Bright, Andrew Hangen, Sarah Milbourne, Dana Paterra

Acting Superintendent/Director Angela Crenshaw opened the meeting at 9:00 am

Program Planning with Mary Owens

●     DLS Study:  Contractors will be here next Thursday to Sunday.  They have set up focus groups and park visits.  We encourage those invited to attend these meetings. Schedule to be determined.

●     Project Review:  239 projects to date for 2023.  We recently hired two seasonal Natural Resource Planner IIs.

●     Maddie Williams can assist with mapping needs that parks have.

●     Two agreements have been signed: Preservation Maryland and the solar project agreement with Maryland Environmental Service.

●     The public hearing for the Swallow Falls Bridge replacement went well. Thanks to everyone that helped with this and attended the meeting.

●     Capital Skeet (Seneca Creek SP) lead remediation options were discussed.

●     Interpretation - Please submit program numbers / stats into the tracking spreadsheet, so we can accurately report interpretation statistics. Big Thank You to field staff for their diligence and thoroughness in gathering and reporting program participation statistics.

●     Es Mi Parque is July 15 at Patapsco Valley, July 16 at Sandy Point, August 12 at Point Lookout, and September 16 at Patapsco Valley. 

●     Maryland State Fair planning for the Department of Natural Resources building is currently underway with the dates starting on August 24, 2023. Other details are forthcoming.

●     The partnership with Landmark Trust USA is continuing, they are interested in the Miller’s House at Susquehanna and the Sparks House at South Mountain. Logistics and coordination were discussed.

Regional Reports

Central Region Report with Patrick Bright

●     Use agreements were discussed. Miller is working with the OAG to review for consistency and accuracy.

●     The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps started last week. Big thanks to the field staff for working through projects and coordination.

●     Interpreting Difficult History: Professor Dr. Julie King has found very significant artifacts. We will continue to coordinate with her and support these efforts.

●     Just a reminder, public statements need to be coordinated through the Department’s Office of Communications. 

●     Please keep your INLETs clean and concise.

 

Southern Region Report with Andrew Hangen

●     Point Lookout has had challenges hiring lifeguards. A post season beach management meeting will be scheduled to discuss options for future hirings.

●     Sandy Point’s pet policy was discussed.  Please let Regional Managers know if there are any other pet policy changes that are needed.

●     Managers, please make sure that employee schedules account for properly closing the park. Patrons should not be expected to leave prior to sunset. 

●     Tawes Garden Gift Shop will be open one day a week.

 

Western Region Report with Sarah Milbourne

●     Proposed development of an interpretive plan for Deep Creek Lake State Park’s Discovery Center.

●     Representatives from State organizations want to visit Scales and Tales sites, Rocky Gap was suggested. Date and invitations are forthcoming.

 

Eastern Region Report with Dana Paterra

●     Parks are extremely busy, but things are going really well.  Lots of rescues at Assateague and their lifeguard staff are doing a great job!

●     Several events will be taking place in the eastern shore parks involving dignitaries over the next couple of weeks.

●     Discussed how to navigate vehicle safety recalls.

 

Administration with Ken Miller

●     Ranger school planning is ongoing and was discussed.

●     Employee Field Day will be held at the Hammerman Area of Gunpowder Falls. The date is to be determined.

●     Chris Grieco continues to work through our access and use of DocuSign.

●     Ken Miller is working with Human Resources on identifying and communicating disqualifying criminal history in the hiring and employment process.

●     An agreement with RV rental companies is being discussed with the OAG and impacted parks.

●     HootSuite and Twitter have been working properly recently, the issues seem to be resolved.

 

Acting Deputy Superintendent/Director Update with Daryl Anthony

●     Curators were discussed.

●     Hazardous tree removal and liability was discussed. Please continue to be diligent with hazardous tree removal.

●     Known park hazards were discussed.  Please make sure your areas are appropriately signed.

●     Please make sure to use your leave according to policy.

●     Please make sure your personal appearance is professional, same goes for your vehicle.

 

Acting Superintendent/Director Update with Angela Crenshaw

●     Customer service is both inward and outwardly facing. Please be professional and courteous with your colleagues in the Park Service and other units.

●     Job announcements are site specific, please only apply if you are willing to take the job. 

●     The operational housing and lateral policies are still being reviewed.

●     LTC conversions were discussed.

●     Please work with your regionals to share the ADA updates that are needed in parks.

●     Crenshaw will visit Eastern Shore parks later this month.

●     Staff was reminded that PEPs should be submitted to Barb Knisely by July 28.

●     The camp host agreement was discussed.

●     A minimum of two events for Veterans should be planned in each region, with a culminating event on Veteran’s Day.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 12:25 pm.