Changes are coming for the 2015 Onset Parking Permit Program, not the least of which is the reduction in price of a parking sticker from $30 to $10.

The Board of Road Commissioners met Tuesday afternoon to discuss and vote on any possible changes to next year's version of the parking program. The program was first introduced this summer and went through a number of changes during the season as the program was met with community outrage. The program aims to protect Onset residents by prohibiting non-residents from parking on certain residential streets in Onset for extended periods of time.

Harbormaster Garry Buckminster, who is not a road commissioner but was instrumental in creating the program said that in his recommendations he tried to respond to community complaints.

He said one of the biggest complaints he received was that people didn't want the Onset parking sticker bundled with the beach/dump sticker. Therefore, the Commissioners voted to make the Onset parking sticker separate from the beach/dump sticker and charge a flat $10 fee for the parking sticker.

The Commissioners also voted to have the parking permit program season run from May 1 to Oct. 31 2015. The program would be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., which is generally the same hours of operation as the parking kiosks.

The parking stickers will only be able to be purchased at the Harbormaster Office in Multi-Service Center. The free 24-hour guest passes, however, will still be available at the Onset Pier.

Also, each resident is still allowed up to four seasonal guest passes for $5 each. They can keep those in their home and use them whenever they have guests during the entire parking program season.

The Commissioners also decided to make two recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. The first is to allow beach/dump sticker holders to park in the Shell Point kiosk lot without having to pay a kiosk fee. This would give residents who live close by, but outside the parking permit program area, the chance to park close to the beach.

The second recommendation is to open up the town-owned land by the Onset mobile home park to be used exclusively for Onset Village employee parking. Buckminster said the lot could fit about 30 cars.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan also mentioned that at the suggestion of consultant firm Nelson Nygaard, the town is considering removing the median at Union Avenue in Onset and adding angled parking to both sides of the road there.

Board of Road Commissioners Chair Sara Forrest said there needs to be meter maids or someone whose sole duty is to go around the parking permit area and issue tickets, since police have many other daily responsibilities.

Sullivan said that although the program was not created to be a money maker, he is looking to hire at least two people to help out the police and harbormaster departments issue tickets in the parking program area. Those positions would be paid for with parking kiosk funds.