Dozens of Onset residents spent over an hour Wednesday voicing their concerns about the new resident permit parking program in Onset.

A major problem, many residents said, is that even if they are made to pay $30 to park on "residential only" streets, there is not enough enforcement or strict enough penalties to deter out-of-towners from parking there anyway. According to Wareham Police Lieutenant and Road Commissioner John Walcek, the normal citation for non-residents parked on a "resident only" street is $30.

"If the parking tickets for violators are only $30… I personally don't think that is going to deter anyone," said Melinda Kelly of West Central Avenue. "The problem is, I spend the money, I give it to the town gladly and I still cannot park. How does that solve the issue?"

She would go on to say there have been many instances when non-residents have obstructed her driveway with their parked cars and that many roads in the area are too narrow for tow trucks.

The Commissioners recently adopted an Onset parking program, which will begin to be enforced July 15, that prohibits non-residents from parking on residential streets for extended periods of time. The program calls for residents to purchase Onset parking stickers for $30 ($15 for seniors) which allows them to park on newly designated "Resident-Only" streets, as well as beach and trash transfer station access. The Onset sticker looks the same as the normal Beach and Transfer Station sticker, but any Onset resident that purchases one going forward will have “Onset” written on the sticker to differentiate them from non-Onset residents. Residents who already have a sticker can have the "Onset" label added at the Harbormaster’s office for no extra cost.

At a Selectmen meeting last month, Selectmen suggested the Commissioners adopt a $100 fine for those who park on "residential-only" streets without a sticker. On Wednesday, Harbormaster Garry Buckminster said adjusting the fine is something the Commissioners could address at a later meeting.

Buckmister proposed two amendments to the parking plan at the meeting. He said the most complaints he received revolved around the availability of guest passes.

The first amendment was that residents be given the opportunity to purchase four year-round visitor passes per household for $10 each. The original plan called for residents to buy a $5 visitor pass whenever they have guests staying longer than 24 hours or obtain a free guest pass if they have a guest staying for less than 24 hours. Residents would be able to purchase the passes even if they don't have an Onset sticker, if, for example, they have ample off-street parking.

The other amendment Buckmisnter proposed was for free on-street passes to be provided for residents with disabilities.

Residents also voiced concerns about a lack of signs around town notifying residents of the parking plan, the ability of police to enforce the program, the year-round nature of the program, and where the revenue from the parking plan ends up.

When one resident suggested that the money from the stickers could be used to put trash barrels in Onset he received a round of applause from the others in attendance.

"This is a new program, it's going to have growing pains" said Buckminster.

"It's not perfect but give us a chance to work out the bugs," added Commissioner Sara Forrest.

Road Commissioners voted to table the amendments until a future public meeting, the date of which is currently undetermined.