THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

EMPLOYEE NEWS

A BI-COUNTY COMMISSION SERVING MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIESVOLUME XXIV • ISSUE 4 WWW.MNCPPC.ORG APRIL 2015

UpdateLook Inside

Prince George's Planning Updates Citizens' Handbook .............................................................page 3

Year-End Purchasing Reminders .............................................................page 3

Montgomery Parks In-Service Training .............................................................page 4

Health and Benefits Update ........................................................pages 6-7

ERS LifeTimes ...........................................................page 10

The deadline for submissions to the next issue of Update

is close of business Friday, May 1.Thank you!

M-NCPPC Celebrates National Women’s History Month with a Luncheon at Newton White Mansion Staff and guests gathered at Newton White Man-sion on Monday, March 16 to celebrate Women's History Month. The event began with Executive Director Patricia Colihan Barney's opening remarks and a welcome by M-NCPPC Vice-Chair Casey Anderson. Commissioner Marye Wells-Harley performed Mistress of Ceremonies duties. Attendees were treated to lunch and, in keep-ing with the national theme of "Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives," guests got to enjoy a weaving demon-stration and interactive weaving activities. Presentations were given by A. Shuanise Washington, Prince George’s County Commissioner, Natali Fani-Gonzalez, Montgom-ery County Commissioner and Maureen Dougherty, Ph.D., Visiting Professor and Program Coordinator, Community College of Baltimore County (Catonsville). The committee provided interactive displays for at-tendees to experience various types of weaving looms. Participants were invited to write their names on strips of fabric, which were then woven into a shawl on a giant community loom. The shawl was presented to Commis-

See Women's History, page 2

April 2015Update 2

EMPLOYEE NEWSUpdateTHE MARYLAND-NATIONAL

CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNINGCOMMISSIONElizabeth M. Hewlett

Chairman

Casey AndersonVice-Chairman

Montgomery CountyNorman DreyfussNatali Fani-GonzalezAmy PresleyMarye Wells-Harley

Patricia Colihan BarneyExecutive Director

Joseph ZimmermanSecretary-TreasurerAdrian R. Gardner

General Counsel

UPDATEExecutive Office Building6611 Kenilworth Avenue

Riverdale, MD 20737301-454-1733

Editor: James AdamsStaff Contributors: Melissa Chotiner, Andrea Davey, Abbigail Irelan, Anika Jackson, Kira Calm Lewis,

Anita Pesses, Tricia SwannProduction/Distribution:

Nakiia Buyck, Bill Sumler, Lawana Bush

Update reserves the right to accept, reject and/or edit any materials submitted for publication.

Prince George’s CountyDorothy F. Bailey

Manuel R. GeraldoJohn P. Shoaff

A. Shuanise Washington

Contribute to Update! Do you have personal news to share? Recently married? Engaged? Had a baby? Won an award? Has anything happened in your Division/Department lately that you think is newsworthy? Let Update know and we’ll con-sider it for an upcoming edition of our monthly employee newsletter. Dead-line for submissions for the upcoming issue is always listed on the front page of the most recent issue of Update.

Please send your notice to:Update.editor@mncppc.org;301-454-1718 (fax);Update Editor, 4th floor, EOB (interof-fice mail); ORjim.adams@mncppc.org

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Welcome to the Commission Update welcomes the following employees who joined the ranks of the M-NCPPC in March 2015:

Prince George’s County Department of Parks and RecreationDavid Marshall, Kelvin Smith, Rob-ert Verbsky, Derrick Perry, Kevin Napier, Eric Kaika

Montgomery County Department of ParksJenay Brown, Edward Glover, Em-ily Mitchell. Daniel Gerrie, Erin Davis

Montgomery County Department of PlanningMichael Sharp

Finance DepartmentTaPrece Williams

sioner Marye Wells-Harley in appreci-ation of her efforts for establishing the agency-wide Women’s History Event, and nurturing its continued success. After these lively speakers, presenta-tions and demonstrations, M-NCPPC Chair Elizabeth M. Hewlett presented closing remarks before bidding every-one farewell.

Thanks go to members of the 2015 Women’s History Committee for an outstanding program: Toni Abresch, Co-Chair, Brenda Barge, Ellen Brous, Evette Cordell, Lisa Dupree, Tanya Hedgepeth, Co-Chair, Arnita Jackson, Amberlace Moore, Mary-beth Oquinn, Anjali Sood, Melissa Thompkins, Ivy Thompson and Katrina Williams.

Women's History Month

Women's History, from page 1

Clockwise from right: Executive

Director Patricia Barney welcomes

guests to the event, Katrina Williams and Lisa Dupree

demonstrate weav-ing; Commissioner

Marye Wells-Harley models the community-woven shawl. Photos by

Cassie Hayden.

April 2015Update 3

The first day of Spring will be upon us very soon and you know what that means … it’s time to get ready for the Fiscal Year 2015 closing! Below is the schedule for the Fiscal Year 2015 closing: • Requirements for all competitive solicitations (e.g., Invitation for Bids, Multi-Steps and Requests for Propos-als) must be received no later than Friday, April 10, 2015. This does not include solicitations for CIP projects.• Requisitions $10,000 and over must be entered into the Requisition Center, approved and received in Cen-tral Purchasing’s inbox no later than Friday, June 12, 2015. Requisitions received after June 12, 2015 will be processed in Fiscal Year 2016 unless

declared an emergency by a Depart-ment Head or Deputy Director and approved by the Secretary-Treasurer. Any RQ documents not finalized to purchase order by June 30, 2015 will be recorded in FY 2016. Please remember that in the Lawson (Infor) System, the due date for the item or service on the requisition determines which fiscal year the funds will be en-cumbered in. Requisitions with a due date on or before June 30, 2015 will be encumbered in FY 2015. Requisitions with a due date beginning July 1, 2015 will be encumbered in FY 2016.• Purchase Orders (including those issued in the Departments for $10,000 and under) must be posted by June 30, 2015 in order to be encumbered in Fis-cal Year 2015.

Year-End Reminders from Purchasing• Contracts, Amendments and Change Orders must be received in Central Purchasing no later than Monday, June 15, 2015. Completed contracts require the signature of the Executive Director, the Secretary-Treasurer and the vendor. Please allow sufficient time to finalize the processing of these documents by June 26, 2015. Documents which have not been completely processed by June 26, 2015 will be encumbered in Fiscal Year 2016. Thanks to all of you, Fiscal Year 2014 was a very smooth closing. Cen-tral Purchasing is looking forward to working with you to make Fiscal Year 2015 the best closing ever! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Central Pur-chasing Division at 301-454-1600.

Prince George’s Planning Updates Guide To Planning, Zoning And Development Review

The Prince George’s County Plan-ning Department has released a new, updated version of its popular Citizen’s Handbook, a guide to planning, zon-ing, and development review activities in Prince George’s County. Offered as a unique learning tool for County residents, the Citizen’s Handbook provides helpful informa-tion on the rules, regulations, and policies governing land use planning and development in the County, and highlights the ways that citizens can become better involved at every level of the planning process. The Citizen’s Handbook also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the various branches of County government and the pro-cesses for public comment at each stage of the development process, and describes the fundamental tools used to guide regulations and procedures in planning and development for the County.

“Whether you are a resident, property owner, or member of the business community, this handbook is designed to provide easy-to-un-derstand information and resources to become a partner in planning our County’s communities to stimulate economic vitality and improve the quality of life,” said M-NCPPC Chair-man Elizabeth M. Hewlett.

Interested users can take a virtual tour of the Citizen’s Handbook by clicking http://www.pgplanning.org/Resources/Citizen_s_Handbook.htm. A print version is also available for downloading from the site, or from M-NCPPC’s Prince George's County Planning Department Planning Infor-mation Services, located in Room L2 of the County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro.

Photo by Ryan Craun

April 2015Update 4

Ten Highlights of the 2015 Montgomery Parks In-Service Training Seasonthe Garment District in New York City for a while to survive?

5. Senior Mechanic Pierre Gagne shared valuable information on the care and storage of equipment and vehicles, encouraging the audience to also be stewards of the Depart-ment’s resources, so they can last longer and perform better.

6. We got an opportunity to reinforce our connection to our Mission, Vision and Values – among them, Stewardship, Sustainability, Col-laboration and Education.

7. We kept staff current on critical policies regarding safety with Mike Bolling from DHRM Risk Management, and new pesticide and fertilizer use mandates with Jodi Fetzer.

8. We partnered with County and State agencies to provide train-ing in recycling and vehicle load requirements.

9. We shared goodwill and camara-derie with fellow employees in an open learning and sharing environ-ment.

10. We took time out of our busy schedules to “sharpen the saw”… to learn and reflect.

Thanks to everyone who played a part in the 2015 IST season including Montgomery Planning Board Chair

Casey Anderson and newest Plan-ning Board Member Natali Fani-Gonzalez; Parks Directorate Mike Riley, John Nissel, Mitra Pedoeem; the Parks Division Chiefs; present-ers named above as well as from the Sustainability Committee: Ellen Bennett, Christine McGrew, Geof-frey Mason, Brian Souders; and Park Planning & Stewardship staff Jai Cole and Amanda Matheny; Manage-ment Services staff John Schlee, Tim Matthews and Darlene Douglas. A special thank you goes to Rochelle Bartolomei, from HFEE for making a couple hundred seed packets. Ap-preciation goes out to Park Police Jeff Coe and Sabrina Pirtle for assisting with traffic control. We especially acknowledge IST Committee members Kevin Ander-son, Judy Cohall, Joe Davis, Dave Fisher, Dmitri Georgiev, Linda Goodman, Margaret Kingsley, Kevin Leonard, AmberLace Moore and Tyrone Reid, as well as our De-partment Sponsor, John Nissel. “These programs get better every year," said John Nissel. "The top-notch speakers and our internal subject matter experts help us cultivate the kind of learning environment we want for the Parks Department. Kudos to the IST Committee."

From January through March each year, hundreds of Montgomery County Department of Parks employees attend In-Service Training (IST) sessions, featuring exceptional speakers and Subject Matter Experts on a variety of work-related and work/life balance topics.

Here are some of the highlights of the 2015 IST program: 1. Former National Capital Police

Chief and acclaimed speaker Dean Crisp adapted “The 7 Highly Ef-fective Habits of Highly Effective Parks People” based on the well-known Stephen Covey principles. He had the audience learning and laughing at the same time.

2. Recruitment and Selection Ser-vices reps Anika Harris, Kendra Heckstall and Tabatha Stith demonstrated the best techniques to use NeoGov for finding and qualifying for Commission jobs, writing impressive resumes and shining during interviews.

3. We covered trending topics that we all need to know more about – sustainability and stewardship, prepping for the busy season, and handling inter-generational conflict.

4. Top Commission and Department leaders bared their souls and told their stories. Where else would you find out that Parks Director Mike Riley used to pump gas for a living, and that Acting Deputy Direc-tory Mitra Pedoeem came to America for a vacation, but had to stay be-cause of politi-cal unrest in her home country, working as a seamstress in

Tabatha Stith, Kendra Heckstall and Bill Tyler for the IST session, "Bring Your “A” Game – Getting in Position for Your Next Parks Job".

April 2015Update 5

The four Montgomery Parks Nature Centers work with each other daily to enhance, promote and sup-port not only our programs, but also the mission and vision of Montgom-ery Parks. In turn, each nature center works to cultivate relationships with groups and individuals in their com-munities. Through these relationships, we can all share resources and exper-tise, help each other on projects, and reach beyond our regular audiences with both information and services. Community relationships take many forms. We work with public and private schools, special needs programs, associations, non-profits, and other groups to connect with our communities. All the nature centers serve as sites for Montgomery County Public School students to meet gradua-tion requirements through internships, senior projects, and student service learning projects. In some cases, these groups and/or individuals are instrumental in the planning and work on specific services and projects.

It Takes a Village: Community Relationships

The examples cited here are just a few of the many active community relationships in place at our nature centers. Locust Grove Nature Center coor-dinates volunteer groups from Com-munity Support Services and St. Co-letta of Greater Washington help with trail and ground maintenance each week. Group members gain real-world work experience and help keep the Nature Center grounds clean and en-vironmentally friendly. Students from Lone Oak Montessori and Ivymount schools also get hands-on experience as they care for animals indoor and out each week at the center. Brookside Nature Center works with the Montgomery County Bee-keepers Association (MCBA). Mem-bers of the MCBA maintain the hives in and around the Nature Center, and in turn, Brookside provides space for the group’s monthly meetings. Black Hill Nature Programs worked with The Harvest Collective, So What Else Inc., Peace on Earth-

bench Movement and local school groups to create Maryland’s first Bottle Brick Bench from recycled ma-terials at Black Hill (shown in picture below). Meadowside Nature Center is home to birds of prey that can no lon-ger survive on their own in the wild. Owl Moon Raptor Center (a local wildlife rehabilitation center) provides expertise and advice regarding the care and management of the Meadowside resident birds. Internships and service learning projects are another important branch of the community relationships “tree.” The Chesapeake Bay Trust is working with the center to fund a year-long internships. Continued collaboration will yield many and far-reaching benefits for the nature centers, our partners, and our shared communities. If you’re inter-ested in forming a relationship with a Montgomery Parks Nature Center, please visit www.montgomeryparks.org/nature_centers/ to get site-specific contact information.

April 2015Update 6

Health & Benefits: News You Can UseOur mission to our customers is to design, develop and administer quality, cost-effective benefit programs responsively, consistently and fairly.

How to Contact Us

Benefits ManagerJennifer McDonald 301-454-1726jennifer.mcdonald@mncppc.org

Paul Brown 301-454-1683paul.brown@mncppc.orgGertie Johnson 301-454-1684gertie.johnson@mncppc.orgLinda Thomas 301-454-1694 linda.thomas@mncppc.org Tikeetha Thomas 301-454-1685 tikeetha.thomas@mncppc.org

email benefits@mncppc.orgFax 301-454-1687

Ready to Put the Butt Out?One more plea to all employees who smoke…

Will and Estate Planning Seminar Due to the overwhelming response to the Will and Estate Planning work-shops recently conducted by Legal Resources, we are offering another workshop conducted by MetLife, at the Shady Grove Maintenance Yard. Many of us believe that estate planning is only for the wealthy. This is a common misconception. Every-body needs estate planning – it’s one of the best ways to ensure that your wishes will be carried out. That’s why we’re pleased to offer MetLife’s Estate

Planning, a complimentary 60 minute workshop where you will learn about:

• Setting and prioritizing your goals • Managing the potential impact of federal estate taxes • Wills and trusts and what they can mean to you • Strategies to help ensure that your loved ones are properly cared for

Take this important step. Regis-ter today. Sign up online. If you are prompted to enter a company name, enter MNCPPC as it appears here. Or call 1-866-801-3547.

Employee Health and Fitness Week The Health & Benefits Office encourages all Commission employees to participate in the Employee Health and Fitness Week which will run from Tuesday, May 12th through Friday, May 15th. Four hours of administra-tive leave will be granted to participat-ing career employees. The activities include: fitness classes, health screen-ings, massages, water activities, bas-ketball, archery and much more. More information about times and location will follow. If you are interested in volunteer-ing with Employee Health and Fitness Week or have questions, please contact Katrina Williams at Katrina.Wil-liams@pgparks.com or by calling her (301) 446-6867 or Veronica Burke at Veronica.Burke@pgparks.com or by calling her at (301) 446-3414.

We are extending the deadline to April 30 to sign up for our smoking cessation program. We need a mini-mum of 15 employees who want to stop smoking to be able to offer an on-site smoking cessation program. Administrative leave will be granted if you sign up to attend an on-site session. If we do not get the required minimum participants, we will of-fer online or telephonic coaching to those who have expressed interest. So, please spread the word, make the com-mitment and make the call. How do you Sign-up? Call Cheryl Rucker at (301)454-1648 or email the Health & Benefits Office at benefits@mncppc.org, with the subject line “Smoking Cessation” on or before Thursday, April 30, 2015.

We need to know the following:• Your name and employee ID

number• The type of program you prefer

- group classes conducted at an M-NCPPC location for 8 weeks, online coaching, or telephonic coaching.

• The location that is most conve-nient for you - a location in Prince George’s County or Montgomery County.

• The best time of day for an on-site program that runs 8 weeks with each session lasting 60 minutes – morning, lunchtime or after work.

Why wait? Let’s put the butt out and grab a “smoking buddy” now.

If you have any questions, please call Cheryl Rucker at 301-454-1648.

When: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Where: Shady Grove Maintenance Facility (SG-M) 16641 Crabbs Branch Way

Rockville, MD 20855 Registration closes Friday, April 24, 2015

April 2015Update 7

Diabetic Meter Program with CVS/Caremark

April is Physical Activity Month Heart disease and stroke are the two leading causes of death in the United States.

Find your balance. When it comes to controlling your weight, diet and exercise both play a critical role. What’s more, studies show physical activity can help you maintain your weight over time. The amount of physical activity someone needs varies from person to person. So it’s important to remember every-one is different, and you may need to be more active than others to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. Most people who want to lose weight incor-porate longer or more intense amounts of physical activity into their workout while reducing the amount of calories they eat or drink throughout the day. That’s because getting to and stay-ing at a healthy weight requires both regular physical activity and a healthy eating plan.

Take your health to heart. Heart disease and stroke are the two leading causes of death in the United States. But following the recommended guidelines and getting at least 150 minutes a week (2 hours

and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity can put you at a sig-nificantly lower risk for these diseases. In addition, regular physical activity can lower your blood pressure and im-prove your cholesterol levels. So show your heart some love and exercise.

Exercise for the health of it. Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which you have some combination of too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides or high blood sugar. Research shows that lower rates of these conditions occur when people engage in 120–150 minutes (2 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of at least moderate-intensity aerobic activ-ity. And the more physical activity you do, the lower your risk will be.

Already have type 2 diabetes? Regular physical activity can help control your blood glucose levels, weight and blood pressure. It can raise your “good” cholesterol and lower your “bad” cholesterol. And, it can help prevent heart and blood flow

Do you have diabetes? If you are a plan member with diabetes, you may qualify for a blood glucose meter at no cost to you.

How do you qualify for this offer?• You have to have diabetes• You have to be enrolled in CVS

Caremark prescription benefits• You have a to have prescription

for test strips OR are willing to let the CVS/Caremark Diabetic Meter Team help get one for you

Your next steps: See if you qualify for a blood glu-cose meter at no charge by calling the CVS/Caremark Diabetic Meter Team toll-free at 1-800-588-4456. Have your prescription ID number and your doctor’s name and phone number available when you call. If you qualify, place your blood glucose meter order through the CVS/Caremark Diabetic Meter Team.

To see if you qualify for a blood glucose meter at no charge, please contact the CVS/Caremark Diabetic Meter Team toll-free at 1-800-588-4456.

problems by reducing your risk of heart disease and nerve damage, which are often problems for people with diabetes.

Tell cancer to take a walk. Being physically active lowers your risk for colon and breast cancer. Studies show physically active people have a lower risk of colon cancer than those who don’t exercise. Likewise, active women have a lower risk of breast cancer than those who are sed-entary. And, research shows those who survive cancer enjoy a better quality of life when they include physical activ-ity in their daily routine. So get active. And kick cancer.

Be good to your bones. As you age, it’s important to protect your bones, joints and muscles. Not only do they support your body and help you move, but keeping bones, joints and muscles healthy can help ensure you’re able to actively keep up with your daily activities. Research shows that doing aerobic, muscle- and bone-strengthening physical activity of at least a moderately-intense level can increase or maintain your muscle mass and strength while slowing the loss of bone density that comes with age. Start slow and gradually increase the amount of weight you lift and the number of repetitions you do to reap those health benefits.

Move a muscle, change a thought. Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depres-sion, and may even help you sleep better. Some scientific evidence has also shown that lower levels of physi-cal activity can be beneficial as well. So whether you hit the gym, take a salsa class or do a little gardening, any physical activity is better than none.

This is article was provided by Cigna.

April 2015Update 8

History in the Parks Season Opens with Free, Educational Activities and Tours Season opening kicks off with Special Guided Underground Railroad Night Hike at Woodlawn Manor

Montgomery Parks starts the His-tory in the Parks season with opening weekend celebrations April 10 – 12, 2015. Special events and tours are scheduled all weekend long at several of the parks signature historic sites. “We are always excited about Opening Weekend. It’s a great way to get an introduction to a life-long lesson in culture, community and con-nections,” said Shirl Spicer, Museum Manager for Montgomery Parks. “We hope that these events serve as a starting point to engage people in the important history that is accessible right here in Montgomery County.”

The weekend events are part of Montgomery Parks’ History in the Parks programming and include:• Friday, April 10: Special Night

Hike of the Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Woodlawn Manor (7 PM | $5 pp)

• Saturday, April 11: Tours and Af-rican Dance Workshop, “Celebra-tion of African Rhythms through Dance & Song” (Starting at 12 PM | Free)

• Sunday, April 12: Free events located at Josiah Henson Park, Harper Cabin, and Kingsley Schoolhouse

Historical education in Montgom-ery County continues to be an impor-tant vehicle for understanding the past to build the foundation for a future. With the facilities officially open-ing, county residents and visitors can explore their heritage throughout the seasons. Operating months are April through November. Please visit Histo-ryInTheParks.org to get event details and site information. Group/school tours or volunteer opportunities are also available.

The Prince George’s County Sports & Learning Complex is host-ing the elite Region VII, Level Eight Gymnastics Championship meet this weekend, Saturday April 11 and Sun-day April 12, bringing in competitors from seven different states to vie for individual and team titles. “This is one of the premier facili-ties on the east coast. We have seating, state-of-the-art gymnastics equipment you’d need for a big event, and we have a lot of it,” said Patti Delaney, gymnastics manager at the Sports & Learning Complex. “Children from all different clubs are competing to beat other states in the region. So, it’s real exciting with the team competition, and there’s also individual competi-tion. This is the culminating meet of the year!” The meet will feature athletes from Delaware, Maryland, New Jer-sey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Gymnasts will compete as individuals and as state teams. From the Sports & Learning Complex’s team, Ashley Anderson will compete for Team Maryland in the Junior A meet, and Skyy Henson will compete for AllStar 1. In the

Junior B meet, Trinity Brown, Mayah Morant and Tailor Clay will represent the Sports and Learning team on Team Maryland. Fairland will be represented by Dani Livingstone in the Senior C meet for Team Maryland. Last year, Team Maryland won the Junior A and C, and Senior A meets at the Region VII, Level Eight meet. Maryland place second in the Junior B, and Senior B and C meets. In 2014, The Sports & Learning Complex’s team won the Level Three, Four and Five State Championships. This year, the team took second place at the State Championships in Level Seven and Eight, and now hold the “Best in State” and “Best in Region” distinctions for 2014. “We had five kids qualify for regionals,” said Grace Ortiz, head coach for women’s gymnastics at the Sports & Learning Complex. “I wish the kids at regionals the best of luck and hopefully they win!” Tickets will be $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for children and seniors. Children five years and younger will not be charged. There is also a week-end pass option: $18.00 for adults and $14.00 for children and seniors.

Sports & Learning Complex Hosts Region VII, Level Eight Gymnastics Meet this Weekend

Recap: Special Life Insurance Enrollment The Heath and Benefits team concluded the enrollment for the special enrollment period. If anyone missed the special enrollment period, don’t worry. You can still enroll for life insurance. Life insurance is not bound by a qualifying event to enroll. However, you may need to go through Evidence of Insurability (EOI). All coverage requests will be subject to EOI with the exception of children, new hires electing coverage within 45 days of their hire date and qualifying events where you are add-ing dependent life insurance within 45 days of the event.

When do I need an EOI?• EOI is required for any elections

between 3 and 5 times your annual salary.

• EOI is required for any requests for option 3 for spouse life ($30,000).

• EOI is required for anyone who previously waived basic life insur-ance and would like to elect.

• EOI is required for any supple-mental life insurance elections (you must have basic life insur-ance).

April 2015Update 9

Classified CornerPark House Rental

Clarksburg. 25115 Frederick Road, A two story, three bedroom home with one full bath located in Little Bennett Regional Park. Features include an eat-in kitchen, living room, covered porch, and shed. The monthly rent for this house is $1,162.50 plus utilities for em-ployees, and $1,250 plus utilities for non-employees. Applications for Park Rental Properties will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Rent may be subject to increas-es as permitted by law. A security deposit equal to one month’s rent is required at lease signing. Applica-tions must include a $30 non-re-fundable credit check fee for each individual applicant over the age of 18. Completed applications must be submitted to: M-NCPPC, Attn: Park Property Management, 16641 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855. Pets. The M-NCPPC requires a signed pet addendum and monthly pet rent of $50 per pet. A refund-able $400 Pet Deposit is also required. The maximum number of pets allowed is two. Tenant Selection Criteria: M-NCPPC employees, Montgom-ery County government employees with emphasis on Fire and Rescue, Police and Montgomery County Public Schools, and the general public.

Surplus Bid 35-06. FireKingFire-proofSafe.Numericalbatteryoper-atedkeypadlock,Size:36”Hx29½”Wx29”D.Fourpullouttrays.Weight:Unknown(atleastacouplehundredpounds,maybemore).Formoreinformation,contactEmmaAndersonatEmma.An-derson@MontgomeryParks.orgor301-495-2563;orEileenEmmettatEileen.Emmett@MontgomeryParks.orgor301-495-2550. AllSurplusBidsareavailablefreeforuseinanyM-NCPPCfacil-ity.BidsmustbesealedandmarkedwiththeirbidnumberandbereceivedinthePurchasingOffice,EOB,bycloseofbusiness,May12.

Beach House for Rent

Outer Banks, N.C.LocatedinOceanSands,Corolla,NC,thislakesidecottageis300yardsfromthebeach,nexttotenniscourts,andnearthejogging/bicyclepaththatparallelsHighway12north&south.Withfourbedrooms,twobaths,enclosedoutsideshower,frontandbackdecks,andascreenedporchfordining,thisfullyequippedhomeisperfectforyoungfamilies.$1500perweek.CallBrigidat703-931-2559.

Surratt House Museum Sponsors Conference Twenty-eight states, Washington, D.C., and Germany are regions rep-resented by 176 attendees at the 16th Annual Lincoln Conference sponsored by the Commission’s Surratt House Museum and its volunteer affiliate, The Surratt Society, on the weekend of March 20-22. This event also com-memorated the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, the signing of the 13th Amendment, and the assassi-nation of Abraham Lincoln. In addition to a full day of presen-tations by authorities in the field of Lincoln studies, the three-day confer-ence also offered daylong tours on Friday (which included a trip to the Smithsonian and an afternoon matinee, Freedom’s Voice, at Ford’s Theatre) and a bus tour over the escape route of John Wilkes Booth for 80 participants on Sunday. Closing comments and a program at the Saturday night ban-quet related to the enduring legacy of Abraham Lincoln – through politics, social issues, and even Mr. Lincoln’s portrayal at the hands of Hollywood through the ages.

Credit Union News

The M-NCPPC Federal Credit Union will hold its annual meet-ing on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 in the PRA auditorium located at 6600 Kenilworth Avenue in River-dale. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m., so please plan to attend. There will be refreshments and door prizes! Hope to see you there!

April 2015Update 10

ERS LifeTimesNews from the Employees’ Retirement System

Vacancies on the Board of Trustees of theM-NCPPC Employees’ Retirement SystemA Notice to all Montgomery County and Prince George’s County Non-Represented Commission EmployeesApplications Sought The terms for the Montgomery County Employee Representative and the Prince George’s County Employee Representative serving on the Board of Trustees of the M-NCPPC Employees’ Retirement System will expire June 30, 2015. The Employees’ Retirement Sys-tem (ERS) Board of Trustees invites applications from any aspiring can-didate who is presently a member of the ERS and works as a Merit System Employee. Employees represented by MCGEO and the FOP are not eligible for these positions. Appointments are made as a result of an election. The Board of Trustees will recommend the candidate from each County receiving the highest number of votes cast, to the Commis-sion for appointment to the Board. The elected representatives will assume their positions on July 1, 2015 and will serve a three-year term ending June 30, 2018.

All candidates interested in serv-ing as a member on the Board of Trustees must send a written statement requesting to have his/her name placed on the ballot. In addition, candidates must include a brief resume stat-ing Commission employment, other interests and personal data pertinent to serving as a Trustee. Mail the Candi-date Statement to: ERS Administra-tor, Employees’ Retirement System, 6611 Kenilworth Avenue, Suite 100, Riverdale, Maryland 20737. Candi-date Statements must be received at the ERS Office by 5 p.m. on April 24, 2015. A Board of Trustee Candidate Packet detailing a Board Member’s duties and responsibilities is available at http://ers.mncppc.org. All interested employees are en-couraged to contact the ERS’ Adminis-trator, Andrea Rose, at (301) 454-1414 regarding the duties and time commitment required for the position.

Condolences The ERS Board of Trustees and staff would like to extend their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Commission retirees Joseph P. Kon-dis and Henry Monroe. Mr. Kondis passed away on Feb-ruary 28, 2015. The former Mont-gomery County Parks Division Chief retired from the Commission effective August 1, 1985 after 31 years of ser-vice. Mr. Monroe worked for Montgom-ery County Parks. He passed away on March 19, 2015. He retired from the Commission on January 1, 1999. He had nearly 14 years of service.

April 2015 Retirees Congratu-lations to the following members on their retire-ment effective April 1, 2015:

John A. Carter, Patricia K. Hedrick, Captain Michael T. Murphy, Earl L. Neil, Carlos F. Reid, Mary Jane Welsh

ERS Receives Awards The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Em-ployees’ Retirement System (“ERS”) received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Finan-cial Report (“CAFR”) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014. The Cer-tificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment. Sheila Joynes, Ac-counting Manager, is recognized and congratulated for leading the CAFR team to another award in excellence. The ERS also received an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for its Summary Annual Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014. This is the fifth year the ERS received this prestigious national award recogniz-ing conformance with the highest standards for creativity, presentation, understandability and reader appeal. Heather Brown, Senior Administra-tive Specialist and Sheila Joynes are recognized for their efforts on the an-nual report project.

April BOT Meeting The next ERS Board of Trustees meet-ing is scheduled for May 5, 2015, 10 a.m., in the ERS/Merit Board Conference Room. For more information, please contact the Retirement Office at 301-454-1415 or visit the ERS website at http://ers.mncppc.org.

April 2015Update 11

Employees’ Job Opportunity Bulletin

See JOB, page 12

The Commission is seeking highly qualified applicants to fill the following positions. This bulletin provides information about available positions on 4/1/15. For updated and more detailed information, such as work locations, job requirements, etc., please visit our website at www.mncppc.org/jobs or call (301) 454-1411. Please note the closing date and time on the posted announcement.

*Typing Test: Applicants for the Park Po-lice Communications Technician positions are required to pass the Criticall assess-ment which includes a typing test.

For specific locations and qualifications of advertised positions, please visit www.mncppc.org/jobs/

Unique Positions

Accounting Technician II – Closes 4/22/15$38,919- $66,598(11603, Grade C06)

Applications Manager - Continuous$59,386- $101,818(12972, Grade I-IT)

Area 3 Division Chief – Continuous$78,833- $134,896(14003, Grade K)

Budget Manager – Continuous$65,829- $114,726(11365, Grade Full-Time J)

Budget Manager – Continuous$65,829- $114,726(12584, Grade Full-Time J)

Corporate Sponsorship Manager Term Contract – Continuous$27.19/hr.-$46.62/hr.(14587, Grade I)

Deputy Planning Director – Continuous $95,620- $163,624(10074, Grade L)

Director of Meadowside Nature Center – Continuous$56,559- $96,970(13376, Grade I)

Executive Director of the Montgomery Parks Foundation – Closes 05/19/15$65,829- $114,726(14062, Grade J)

Facilities Manager – Continuous$49,941- $85,458(10424, Grade H)

Horticulturist I – Continuous $44,054- $75,381(11455, Grade G)

IT Manager – Continuous$71,754- $125,051(13417, Grade J-IT)

Auditor III – Closes 04/17/15$56,559.00- $96,970.00(10040, Grade I)

Marketing Manager – Continuous$56,559- $96,970(13291, Grade I)

Park Naturalist II – Closes 4/10/15$49,941- $85,458(10998, Grade H)

Park/General Maintenance Worker III Term Contract – Continuous$34,582- 59,175(14424, Grade L03)

Planner Coordinator - Continuous$56,559- $96,970(12921, Grade I)

Planner Supervisor – Continuous$65,829- $114,726(14022, Grade J)

Planning Supervisor - Continuous$65,829- $114,726(10012, Grade J)

Program Manager – Continuous $49,941- $85,458(11626, Grade H)

Project Manager-Watershed Improve-ment Plan (WIP II) Coordinator Term Contract – Continuous$56,558- $96,969(14580, Grade I)

Recreation/Enterprise Facility Manager I – Closes 4/23/15$44,054- $75,381(13063, Grade G)

Regional Operations Manager – Closes 04/28/15$65,829- $114,726(13262, Grade J)

Senior Graphic Designer Term Contract – Continuous$24.01/hr.- $41.09/hr.(14582, Grade H)

Senior IT Support Specialist – Closes 04/21/2015$38,919- $66,598(10198, Grade T04)

Senior Planner – Continuous $49,941- $85,458(13867, Grade H)

Senior Policy Specialist – Continuous$56,559- $96,970(11473, Grade I)

Senior Procurement Specialist -Continu-ous$49,941- $85,458(13067, Grade H)

Senior Safety Specialist – Continuous $49,941- $85,458(14541, Grade H)

Transportation Planner Coordinator/Senior Planner – Continuous $56,559- $96,970(12944, Grade I/H)

Transportation Senior Planner – Con-tinuous$49,941 - $85,458(14033, Grade H/G)

Tree Nursery Supervisor – Continuous$49,941- $85,458(11023, Grade H)

Seasonal/Intermittent Positions

Area Operations Seasonal (2015) – Con-tinuousDepends on qualifications(44444Y)

Arts Positions – ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(PG55555S)

Custodian – ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(SHWDCUST)

Customer Service Representative – ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(PGCSR)

April 2015Update 12

Employees’ Job Opportunity BulletinJOB, from page 11

Data Entry Specialist/EAM Support – ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(PG00004)

Enterprise Golf Course Spring/Summer 2015 – ContinuousDepends on Qualfiications(EG32165)

Help Desk Representative I – Closes 5/2/15Depends on Qualifications(MCHDS1)

Historic Rental Positions – ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(55555HR)

History/Museum Staff Positions – Clos-es 04/30/15Depends on Qualifications(PG10001H-KH2015)

Inclusion/Therapeutic Recreation/Kids Care Year-Round – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(22222Y)

Kayak Summer Camp Instructor at Black Hill Regional Park – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(MC98654)

Lifeguard – Closes 07/31/15Depends on Qualifications(PG12222)

Montgomery County Maintenance/Data Entry 2015 – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(MC222M)

Montgomery County Seasonal Posi-tions-Winter/Spring/Summer 2015 – Closes 08/15/15Depends on Qualifications(MC111SS-2015)

Montgomery County Position Spring 2015 - ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(MC55556G)

Natural Resources/Nature Facility – Closes 04/30/15Depends on Qualifications(PG10002NR-KH2015)

Natural and Historical Resources Staff –Closes 04/30/15Depends on Qualifications(PG10003NH-KH2015)

Nature Camp Counselor Assistant at Brookside Nature Center- ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(MC64532)

Nature Camp Counselor at Brookside Nature Center – ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(MC54555)

Nature Camp Counselor at Locust Grove Nature Center – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(MC53545)

Nature Camp Lead Teacher at Brook-side Nature Center – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(MC32323)

Nature Camp Lead Teacher at Locust Grove Nature Center – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(MC43434)

Park Maintenance Positions- Continuous Depends on Qualifications(PG33333-2015)

Southern Area Positions- ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(PG88557)

Part-Time Administrative Assistant – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(PG66666)

Pool Manager – Closes 07/31/15Depends on Qualifications(PG33334)

Prince George’s County Regional Tech-nology & Recreation Center – Continu-ousDepends on Qualifications(PG77777S)

Seasonal Park Naturalist at Locust Grove Nature Center – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(MC56321)

Part-Time Administrative Assistant- Continuous Depends on Qualifications(PG36925)

Part-Time Administrative Assistant- Continuous Depends on Qualifications(PG121212)

Part-Time Scorekeeper- Continuous Depends on Qualifications(PG14785 Positions at Brookside Gardens – Con-tinuousDepends on Qualifications(MC74185)

Senior Services Position (Year Round) – ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(2015SY)

Southern Regional Technology & Recre-ation Complex Summer Camp Positions 2015- Continuous Depends on Qualifications(PGSRT11)

Sports, Health and Wellness Division Positions – ContinuousDepends on Qualifications(77777Y)

Stormwater Management Program Facility Aide III – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(MC696969) Swim Coach – Closes 07/31/15Depends on Qualifications(11111SC)

Swim Lesson Instructor/Adaptive Aquatics Instructor – Closes 07/31/15Depends on Qualifications(PG23333)

The Show Place Arena/Prince George’s Equestrian Center Part-Time Positions –Continuous Depends on Qualifications(99999)

Visitors Center Assistant – Closes 04/17/15Depends on Qualifications(PRP123)

Weekend Naturalist at Brookside Na-ture Center – Continuous Depends on Qualifications(MC85231)