Attendees: Angela Crenshaw, Rachel Temby, Kenneth Miller, Andrew Hangen, Sarah Milbourne, and Dana Paterra
Director Angela Crenshaw opened the meeting at 8:19 am.
Director Update with Angela Crenshaw
When serving as an interview panelist, please maintain confidentiality regarding the results. This is important as we will be having a lot of interviews to fill the Great Maryland Outdoors Act (GMOA) positions.
For all maintenance issues on operational houses, please work through the land managers to resolve them.
Park Maintenance Program Supervisors met with Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources Dave Goshorn and Director of Human Resources Services (HRS) Asher and myself. They posed a question for HRS to ask THE Department of Budget and Management and received clarification on the reclassification and Annual Salary Review process.
In October, DNR will be able to do in-house work up to $400,000. We can thank Department Leadership for this change.
The Office of Tourism and Development is working on how to improve outreach to Spanish-speaking people who want to visit Maryland. I shared a list of interested parties with their contractor. It should be noted that the goal of this is how to improve outreach and not improve services.
I have received a number of questions about why certain positions are filled with open recruitments instead of later transfers. Lateral transfers move vacancies around the Park Service and do not address our vacancy rate. The goal of Park Service Leadership is to use all of the tools in our toolbox to move the Service forward and fulfill our mission. The best way to fulfill our mission and serve the people of Maryland and our fellow team members is to fill vacancies and make sure our parks are fully staffed. Open recruitments also ensure equal opportunities for all qualified candidates which means no one is excluded from applying. Lateral transfers, on the other hand, favor employees in the current classification which can limit the promotional opportunity of employees who want to advance their careers and those outside of the Maryland Park Service.
Please note that all email correspondence should be polite and tactful. When Public Information Action requests are received, you may not be notified, and all of your applicable emails will be gathered and read by members of the public. With this in mind, please be cordial and mindful of what you write.
The Department of Natural Resources hosted a meeting regarding Gwynns Falls State Park with Baltimore City Recreation and Park and the Mayor’s Office. We have a list of next steps and a plan to keep interested parties in the loop.
The seasonal contract and Long-Term Contractual contract revisions and disqualifying history process is progressing nicely thanks to HRS, the Office of Fair Practice, the Office of the Attorney General, and Park Service and MPS Leadership. We hope to have everything finalized shortly. This may take some time as these new contracts and disqualifying history requirements are applicable to the entire Department.
In response to the many mental health related issues the Park Service has been responding to, Crenshaw held multiple calls and meetings with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Leadership and Maryland State Police Leadership regarding appropriate responses. We discussed what the interagency request would require, responses, necessary follow up and existing applicable regulations. This work is ongoing.
Thank you for the timely and detailed responses to stewardship requests. Please keep this going as we anticipate requests will continue so that we can meet the 40 by 2040 requirement (40% of the land in Maryland will be conserved by 2040) in fulfillment of the Maryland the Beautiful Act. Be sure to list anything we would need to manage the site and if a site visit is necessary, request one.
Miller spoke up on behalf of a Park Service team member and successfully helped to resolve an issue. He also made a great contact at DBM in the process. I consider this a nice win, thanks Miller!
Deputy Director Update with Rachel Temby
We are currently planning for the Fall Managers Meeting - Park Managers should bring questions and discussion topics to your Regional Managers by the October meeting.
Coordination of outdoor recreation service contracts at multiple parks and/or in partnership with the Office of Outdoor Recreation (OOR) was discussed. The internal review process should be utilized to consider proposals and solicit feedback. The appropriate agreement should be prepared (Minimal Impact Use Agreement, Resource-based Recreation Agreement, commercial concession contract, etc.)
The Maryland Park Service (MPS) continues to field requests for field office space and contemplate potential alternate uses for vacant houses and structures that may allow for improved cross-unit collaboration, enhanced Natural Resources Police (NRP) presence in parks, etc. Ideas should be shared with MPS Leadership for consideration by the Housing Review Committee (HRC) and DNR Leadership.
OOR is coordinating a new Park Maintenance Apprenticeship Program in partnership with MPS, the Department of Labor, DBM, and HRS. Emily Morrow is the DNR point-person coordinating the effort and has reached out to park maintenance representatives to facilitate discussion of training needs and program planning, in anticipation of standing up a modest pilot program next year.
With many recruitments underway and more to come, requests for an employee’s service on an interview panel should be directed first to the Park Manager to confirm availability and approval to approach the employee with a request. This will allow managers to consider scheduling and track frequency of service.
Bilingual Resources that were shared by Isabel Layton (OOR) at the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Accessibility (DEIJA) workshops will be sent out to the MPS workforce, and several off-season functional Spanish training opportunities will be offered in coordination with MPS Training Division. MPS Leadership is following up on a recent issue contacting 24-hour translation hotline over Labor Day weekend.
Upcoming Ranger School plans including visiting deans and a new potential format for future schools was discussed.
Unit Policy work will resume upon hire of new Regional Managers and a Planning Director. Review efforts will prioritize topics and incorporate the Departmental policy review process. A small work group will be established and proposed for approval (MPS Leadership, OAG, the Department Policy Lead, Erin Thomas, and subject matter experts as needed).
Volunteer program success stories, goals and themes for the year ahead, and effective tracking of service hours were discussed ahead of eventual recruitment for Statewide Volunteer Coordinator.
Program Planning with Crenshaw & Temby
DNR has fielded multiple requests for installation of Mesonet towers (meteorological stations) in partnership with the University of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. Appropriate locations for placement of towers were discussed and approval to decline if conditions are ill-suited for various reasons (early stages of planning/site development, incongruous with natural aesthetic or historic landscape, etc.). Site consideration should be made on a case-by-case basis with adequate justification for denial (Wolf Den Run and Sang Run) or approval.
Multiple factors should be considered when evaluating sites for potential restoration projects including historic landscape preservation, maintenance and operational constraints, potential future use, departmental policies and initiatives, etc. Robust participation in the internal review process allows for solicitation of comments to facilitate discussion and collaboration, netting better land use outcomes. Land managers and planners are encouraged to approach this discourse similarly to the Stewardship Review process.
Pilot programs in regenerative agriculture and further exploration of similar opportunities discussed by DNR, MPS Leadership, LAP, and OAG to ensure an effective process and template is developed for replication and key opportunities are identified.
Project recommendations for Climate Adaptive Parks have been reviewed by DNR and MPS Leadership and several initiatives have been identified for support by GMOA funds designated for climate mitigation. These include Tuckahoe’s Phase I and II restoration, Point Lookout campsite to day-use conversion and access improvements, and resiliency work at Patapsco Valley, Assateague, and Holly Beach Farm. More information will follow.
Potential Interpretive themes for next year were discussed ahead of upcoming interpretation team meetings. Additional ideas and feedback from field staff are welcome.
Administration with Kenneth Miller
Employee award nominations were discussed. Park managers should ensure nominators and nominees attend the upcoming Employee Field Day. Please notify your Regional Manager if someone is unable to attend.
Visitation numbers were reviewed and discussed. Parks should ensure the previous month's data is entered prior to the Maryland Park Service Leadership meeting each month. This data is used by both DNR and MPS Leadership for planning purposes and justifications.
The budget was discussed. Thanks again to everyone for their hard work to reduce spending in fiscal year 2024 to ensure were in a better place for fiscal year 2025. The Park Service was able to put about $9.5 million dollars into the Forest and Park Reserve Fund to help cover future needs.
The concession budget was discussed along with making sure expenditures and revenues are properly coded to the concession fund. Miller will follow up with Fiscal and Administrative Services on some revenue coding questions. Dana St. Clair will be sharing revenue reports with Park Managers a couple times over the fiscal year to help parks understand where they stand.
The Department is working to ensure all Federal Grants follow Department of Budget and Management requirements. Any parks/programs looking to apply for federal grants must get approval before applying. Any federal grant requests should be sent to Miller. He will work with the Office of the Secretary and Fiscal and Administrative Services to get the needed approval. Also, any subrecipient grants must be shared with Ken Miller so Fiscal and Administrative Services can track.
Regional Reports
Central Region and Conservation Corps Report with Rachel Temby
Current status of conservation corps programs was discussed, including evolution of the Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC) and Conservation Jobs Corps (CJC) in the upcoming year. MCC recruitment is now complete and only one crew lead position remains to be filled; with training underway this week. Last weekend’s MCC 40th anniversary gathering was enjoyed by all present, including retired program director Marti Woodfield who was in attendance.
Consideration given to new acquisitions with land use restrictions placed by the seller, citing several examples of recent real estate transactions including solar generation, terms of use, future funding, easements, etc.
Gunpowder Falls State Park is exploring the opportunity to discontinue commercial paddlesport concession contracts at the Hammerman and Dundee Creek Marina areas and pursuing a modest kayak and canoe rental program to be operated in-house by park staff out of the Dundee Creek Marina area. *If any parks have excess inventory of watersports equipment that are under-utilized at their site, please notify your Regional Manager of the potential to re-allocate them elsewhere.
Cooler weather and a post-Labor Day drop in visitation bring welcome relief to teams and mark a shift in operations in many parks across the region; still some are gearing up for a busy fall season of special events, and seasonal staffing reductions have necessitated paring back some services and facilities.
Southern Region Report with Andrew Hangen
Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary is conducting a feasibility study, they are looking at potential locations for a Visitor Center. Currently Smallwood State Park is one of their first choices. Charles County has hired a contractor to conduct the study, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association has provided funding.
The Seafood Festival and the Bay Grass Festival are scheduled for back-to-back weekends in September at Sandy Point State Park.
New hunting areas opened on September 6th at Holly Beach Farm Natural Resources Management Area, Severn Run Natural Environment Area and the Jacksonville area of Gunpowder Falls State Park. A few minor issues were encountered and resolved at Holly Beach Farm Natural Resources Management Area. All other areas opened without incident.
Lead fragments can have significant impacts on birds of prey. We should be mindful of lead in dispatched wildlife and consider how we dispose of carcasses. The presentation by the non-lead partnership is worthwhile if you have the opportunity to attend.
Eastern Region Report with Dana Paterra
Capacity closure notifications and emergency INLET notifications were discussed. A path forward that would decrease capacity closure emails on busy weekends is being investigated for possible implementation in 2025.
Special events coming up this fall in the East include events at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad, Tuckahoe, and Pocomoke River State Parks.
Assateague State Park’s Headquarters tile tested positive for asbestos. The park is working with qualified contractors to decrease the hazard. They are currently waiting on quotes from two vendors.
Regional Managers please query whether there are any parks interested in hosting the 2025 Lifeguard competition.
First amendment rights regarding political opinions were discussed.
Statewide orders of honor box envelopes, trash free park bags, picnic tables, grills and fire rings for this fiscal year were discussed. Envelopes and trash free bags will be coordinated by headquarters.
The Pocomoke Pool project is “complete” despite outstanding warranty work and lighting issues. The pool should be filled and tested prior to winterization and we look forward to a successful reopening in May of 2025.
Western Region Report with Sarah Milbourne
The Frederick Library System has been approved to purchase 14 annual passes to expand access to open spaces for Frederick Countians and to position the library as a community hub that fosters connection and engagement.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has approached Regional Manager Milbourne to discuss a recent endowment they received for land acquisition in Garrett and Allegany Counties. The Conservancy is interested in exploring potential partnerships with the DNR to support land acquisition efforts in these areas. Once the Conservancy submits a formal proposal, Milbourne will forward it to the Land Acquisition and Planning team to evaluate the potential for aligning TNC funding with the DNR's stewardship process.
Savage River Lodge was a topic of discussion, with specific focus on contractual staffing, branding, and post-December plans.
Sideling Hill Creek State Park training center transformation was discussed.
To mitigate fire hazards associated with the use of extension cords, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging will be restricted at full-service and mini cabins. However, EV charging will still be permitted at campsites provided appropriate cords are used. This restriction will be added to CAMIS by Miller to cover all full-service cabins.
Leadership is exploring the innovative concept of deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) Park Ranger cutouts at Visitor Centers and other park locations. These life-sized figures, branded in park ranger attire, could serve as interactive information points, capable of answering visitor questions and providing tailored recommendations based on individual interests and preferences.
Meeting was adjourned at 2:00 pm.
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