New England District projects celebrate National Public Lands Day Story on page 6 YANKEE ENGINEER 2 October 2018 Yankee Voices Larry Oliver (left) and Jess Levenson Hatch Act Reminder Now that the election season is in full swing approaching the mid-term elections in November, we all need reminders about the Hatch Act, 5 U.S.C. Sec. 7321-7326. Generally speaking, federal employees, unless further restricted, may actively participate in political management and political campaigns. But the Hatch Act specifically prohibits federal Millers River at Birch Hill Dam. employees from engaging in political activity while on Fall colors decorate Birch Hill Dam duty or in the workplace, Story and Photo by Jeff Mangum even if you’re teleworking. Project Manager, Birch Hill Dam & Tully Lake There are also rules The glorious colors of early October reflect on the Millers River in Massachusetts on the use of social media as it flows toward the 1942 Birch Hill Dam gate house, the brick building seen which should be reviewed. above the rock in this photo. For further information, The river flows unimpeded most of the year, as seen here, but when please visit the Office of downstream flooding threatens, the dam lowers its four gates to constrict river Special Counsel (OSC) flow and reduce the risk of flooding in Athol, Orange and beyond. at this link: https://osc. Birch Hill Dam is part of a network of dams that work together to reduce flood gov/Pages/HatchAct.aspx risks on the Connecticut River. The rules on political activity for Army are in DoD Words worth repeating Directive 1344.10 and AR "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." 600-200, not the Hatch Act. - Maya Angelou YANKEE ENGINEER is an authorized unofficial Army newspaper under provisions of AR 360-1 published monthly. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army. Contributions from readers are solicited, but publica- District Commander: Col. William M. Conde tion depends on judgment of the editor. No payment will be made for contributions. Published by the Public Affairs Office, New Acting Chief, Public Affairs: Timothy Dugan England District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 696 Virginia Road, Concord MA 01742-2751, 978-318-8777. Printed by the offset Editor: Ann Marie R. Harvie method on recyclable paper by the Defense Printing Office in Philadelphia, Pa. Circulation 1600. The YANKEE ENGINEER Community Relations Advisor: Sally M. Rigione can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/news/yankee.htm. ON THE COVER: Volunteers visit Web Content Manager: Vacant an educational booth at the Cape Cod Canal's Clean Up Day in celebration of National Public Lands Day. YANKEE ENGINEER October 2018 3 Cape Porpoise Harbor, Kennebunkport, Maine. Photo provided by Navigation Branch Corps proposes maintenance dredging of Cape Porpoise Harbor Federal navigation project in Kennebunkport by Timothy Dugan 15. The work is anticipated to be performed in 2019/2020. Public Affairs Office The Corps’ most recent dredging of the harbor was in The New England District plans to perform 1976 when a mechanical dredge removed approximately maintenance dredging of the Cape Porpoise Harbor Federal 123,000 cubic yards of sediment from the 15-foot navigation project in Kennebunkport, Maine. The town of channel, 15-foot anchorage, and 6-foot channel, and Kennebunkport is the local sponsor and requested this work. placed the material at the Cape Arundel Disposal Site. “Natural shoaling processes have reduced available The proposed work is being coordinated with: U.S. depths to as little as 1.0 foot in the 15-foot MLLW channel Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife and anchorage, and 2.0 feet in the 6-foot MLLW channel, Service; National Marine Fisheries Service; Maine making navigation hazardous or impossible at lower stages Department of Environmental Protection; Maine Department of the tide,” said Project Manager Coral Siligato, of the of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry; Maine Coastal Corps’ New England District, Programs/Project Management Program; Maine Department of Marine Resources; Maine Division. “Maintenance dredging of approximately 25,000 Historic Preservation Office; the Penobscot Nation; and the cubic yards of primarily fine- and medium-grain sand, and silt town of Kennebunkport. An environmental assessment is from approximately 12 acres of the authorized project area being prepared and will be available for review upon request. will maintain the FNP to required authorized dimensions of The public notice, with more detailed information, is the 6-foot MLLW channel and will maintain safe navigation to available for review on the Corps website at http://www. 10 feet MLLW in the 15-foot MLLW channel and anchorage.” nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Public-Notices/. A private contractor, under contract to the government, Public comments on this proposed dredging project will use a mechanical dredge and scows to remove the should be forwarded no later than Nov. 20, 2018 to the material and then transport it for placement at the Cape U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Arundel Disposal Site or the Portland Disposal Site. Programs/Project Management Division (ATTN: Ms. Construction is expected to take between 1-3 months Coral Siligato), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742- within the allowable dredge window of Nov. 1 to March 2751 or by email to [email protected]. YANKEE ENGINEER 4 October 2018 Maj. Gen. Milhorn holds virtual Town Hall Meeting for North Atlantic Division, discusses better communication Better communication was on the is key with local, state and federal The general also believes that more mind of Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Milhorn when responders to synchronize efforts to experienced employees should mentor he held the first-ever North Atlantic get the job done,” he said. newer employees to pass on what Division-wide virtual town hall meeting, Maj. Gen. Milhorn next discussed they learn before they retire so that Oct. 11. New England District team new hires and the importance of the institutional knowledge the more members gathered in the Concord Park mentorship. He said he understood experienced employees possess will cafeteria to listen to what he had to say. the frustration of the time it takes to stay in the Division for others to use. Maj. Gen. Milhorn began by hire new employees and that he was Specifically, he is interested in the thanking Division team members for all meeting with the Human Resource informal mentorships. “I get more out they do every day and then explained team to see what, if anything, can be of a 15-minute conversation than I do the reason for the town hall meeting. done. Once new hires arrive, Maj. downloading a lot of information on the The team, he said, was already great Gen. Milhorn would like to make them Internet,” he said. “Ninety-nine percent and that the Division has the utmost of people will not go and look at those professionals he has seen and he documents.” depends upon them for their expertise. Program execution is another However, even with great performers , area that Maj. Gen. Milhorn finds there is always room for improvement. very important. He said that when he He said it was his charge to the Division goes out and talks with stakeholders, team to, “make it matter, make it better.” communicating expectations up front “It’s my intent to be up front and is crucial. Miscommunication, he said, transparent about what I believe and could cause delays and extra costs. what we need to do to get better,” he Although cost, quality and schedule said. are all important, Maj. Gen. Milhorn One of the things that the Division said he believes that quality tops the can do better, according to Maj. Gen. list. “No one remembers how much Milhorn, is communicating what we do a building costs or how long it took to and how well we do it with the public. build it, but everyone will remember the “We need to go outside our comfort quality – good and bad,” he said. “If zones and communicate in such a Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Milhorn, NAD Commander the quality is bad, that is a reputational way that people understand what feel they are part of the team as soon risk that NAD would have to overcome.” we do,” he said. “Although it’s not a as possible. “How do we put our arms Maj. Gen. Milhorn said that concern right now, when people don’t around them immediately?” he asked. demonstrating through confidence understand, it opens us up to attack He said that when a new person and the ability to execute is what is or it has people looking at separating comes on board at the division important. “Hold to quality at all levels,” roles and responsibilities that would be headquarters, he makes every effort he said. “Hold everyone accountable.” distributed to organizations outside of to meet them within the first week of Although quality is top on his list, the Corps of Engineers.” their arrival. that does not mean forgetting about The general said that as the “If for nothing else but to welcome cost and schedule. “When Congress division commander, it is his job to them to the team and to the family, let awards billions of dollars or authorizes tell people about the Division team, them know what their responsibilities and appropriates billions of dollars for our projects and the value that they are and where I think they fit into the us to do work, it comes down to the bring to the nation. He mentioned system and what’s going on with the delivery and they want to see us do the disaster recovery work the team organization,” he said.