There is too much parking on the side streets near Silvershell Beach, according to Marion Recreation Director Jody Dickerson, who has been given the greenlight to limit the number of non-resident guests.

On Tuesday, the Selectmen approved Dickerson’s proposal for the number of non-residents be restricted to just 20 parking spaces per day on the side streets adjacent to the beach.

Dickerson has designed a system using 20 one-day passes for non-residents to be handed out each day on a first come, first serve basis.

“There are two real benefits to this,” Dickerson said. “One is it’ll reduce parked cars on the side streets, and two is that it’ll bring in some extra revenue for the town.”

Silvershell Beach is public, but only allows for resident parking. This, Dickerson says, is why so many non-residents have parked on nearby residential roads.

Selling the one-day passes will also bring in an extra $14,000 per year in revenue to the town, Dickerson said.

Selectman Roger Blanchette said he was concerned with how the money would be looked after.

“That’s a lot of cash, and cash has a tendency to disappear,” Blanchette said. “Things happen.”

The money from the sales of one-day passes will be deposited at the Police Station every day, Dickerson said.

He said  the money would be kept in sealed bags, and the Recreation Department will take care of the bookkeeping.

Dickerson suggested the money be kept into an escrow account, which the Recreation Department can access for maintenance of the buildings and playgrounds on the beach.

Blanchette said the area could use some repairs, especially the playground and a few of the benches.

Selectman Stephen Cushing said the plan for tracking the money was “feasible.”

“There are enough eyes on that part of the process that if something goes wrong, they’d know quickly,” Cushing said.

Selectman Chair John Henry suggested the board and Dickerson review the policy once it is into effect to see if it would be wise to raise the number of non-resident parking passes from 20.

After approving the parking policy, the Selectmen agreed to discuss the number of parking passes allowed at the beach as needed as the year progresses.

“We’ll try it for a year, modify it and see where it goes,” Blanchette said.