Chantal Bloyce Murphy, Director of Visitor Services, introduced Dina Weatherly as the town’s new cultural affairs and special events coordinator and summarized recent program and data updates for the committee.

Dina Weatherly said she will handle cultural affairs liaison work, special-event permitting and film/photography permitting coordination. “I just started a month and a half ago… I’m very excited to start this position,” she said.

Murphy told members the town is revising its special-events permitting materials and expanding online guidance so applicants have clearer instructions before the February 1 filing rush. She said the town has limited filming during peak summer “blackout” dates and is discussing streamlined processes with Netflix and the Massachusetts Film Office to make photo and film permitting less burdensome when appropriate.

On visitor services operations, David Sharp, the town’s visitor services coordinator, reported passport-assistance activity and foot-traffic numbers: staff collected 984 passport applications last year (new and some minor renewals), and the office logged 611 in‑person visitors in December. Chantal Bloyce Murphy reported a December total of about 34,000 visitors for the month, with an average dwell time of about 10 hours and a 11.3% increase over December 2023. For the Thanksgiving-to-Stroll two‑week window, staff estimated 42,000 visitors, up 31.5% from the previous year.

On cultural funding, Murphy said the Nantucket Cultural Council closed its grant cycle and awarded grants to 11 applicants; the council received roughly $35,000 in requests while the Mass Cultural Council provides the local council about $57,100 in annual funds. The cultural district supplements awards for island projects that do not meet the cultural council criteria.

Administrative business: the committee approved the November 12 minutes with a minor correction to a 2022 room-occupancy figure. Member Peter Morrison moved to approve the minutes and Matt Peele seconded; the minutes passed by roll-call vote with all members present voting aye. The meeting later adjourned by roll-call vote.

Murphy and staff said they will continue monthly special-events coordination meetings, update online permit guidance and follow up on passport and visitor‑data reporting if members request deeper breakdowns.