I'm not sure how this discussion began, but I would like to clarify what is actually occurring.
I would agree that the loss of Carolyn Sime and Chris Smith were significant losses to FWP. I, and I believe most of the agency, would agree that they were excellent biologists, and continue to be excellent in the capacities they now pursue. I still call upon them on occasion seeking their wisdom and advice. If I could entice then back to FWP, I would. The decisions to dismiss those people were made during a previous administration as per people in charge at that time.
Arnie Dood has not been terminated. Arnie has been in several different roles with the department over the years. We are intending to move Arnie to another position which needs someone in it with his skills and talents. No one likes to eliminate positions, but the legislative mandate from the 2013 legislative session for the 4% personal services reduction remained in place and resulted in FWP having to eliminate the equivalent of 20.56 FTE. The Wildlife Division was required to reduce 4.9 FTE and this position was one of those identified. With the expansion of the area where brucellosis has been detected in elk and cattle, and the issues that brings forth, the need to have a full-time coordinator to work with working groups, landowners, livestock producers in general, sportsmen and the general public has been identified as a critical need.
The brucellosis position offered to Arnie is one that we thought would fit his skills and the department’s needs best at this time. Additionally, that position would be located out in R3 (Bozeman office), which is where we understand that Arnie would like to remain. There may be other positions that Arnie is interested in, but we could not guarantee those positions be located in Bozeman.
Rebecca Cooper has been the FWP lead in cooperation with the NPS on the revision of the joint NPS/Montana (IBMP) bison plan. The draft of this plan is expected to be released for public comment shortly.
The Governor’s office has been the lead on the Westside Expansion or greater allowance for Yellowstone bison in Montana since that effort stalled in the Board of Livestock last year. I understand that the Governor’s office will be releasing a decision on that issue in the near future.
The statewide bison planning effort is still moving forward with the release of the draft Plan/EIS to be in early June. The part of that process which Arnie was involved in is coming to completion. Lauri Hanauska-Brown has been, and will continue to be the lead on the effort, with assistance from other appropriate staff. Once we have completed the public comment period and a final decision is made, we will be proceeding in concurrence with that decision.
I understand your concern over the future of a bison restoration efforts, but want to assure you that Governor Bullock has made it clear we will proceed with those efforts and FWP will be proceeding accordingly with decisions on those efforts within the next 18 months. However, I want to emphasize that bison are only one of many species and recreational opportunities that the department is responsible for and dollars and personnel resources are limited to what we can accomplish in a given timeframe.
Jeff
M. Jeff Hagener, Director
MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks
1420 East 6th Avenue
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
406-444-3186 office
406-444-4952 fax
From: *****@***.com [mailto:*****@***.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 11:40 AM
To: Hagener, Jeff
Subject: Arnie Dood
I must express my disappointment with your decision to, essentially, terminate Arnie Dood by eliminating his position as bison planner. Moreover, I find treating an employee who has given years of service to Montana and to FWP in this manner to be morally repugnant.
We hear that an excuse is that bison are not a priority for Montana. That can not be true. Polls show strong support for establishing a wild herd in the state. FWP is currently engaged with 3 bison projects/issues: 1) an overdue decision notice for allowing Yellowstone bison into Montana; 2) revision of the joint NPS/Montana (IBMP) bison plan; 3) the stagnant process for developing a Montana plan for bison. The excuse doesn't hold water.
Arnie is expected to follow Chris Smith and Carolyn Sime. These were people who impressed me as good wildlife biologists. Carolyn was tapped for the "professional of the year" award by MT TWS about the time she was terminated. I know Arnie even better and considered him one ray of hope for the application of wildlife biology in FWP. I hate to say it: FWP has too many water-carriers and cow-pasture biologists. What message does the Smith, Sime, Dood trend send to serious biologists and managers in FWP? Personally, I would not recommend any new wildlife graduate to seek employment in your department. Alas, I am that disappointed.
Maybe this can be turned around. Sincerely,*****