Frank Parlato pitched 22 acres of potential Tonawanda Creek parkland to the Clarence Town Board again Wednesday night, but the board still wasn't buying.

In fact, the developer and forest preservationist's proposal to sell Clarence forest and meadow for a waterfront park at the north end of Goodrich Road appears doomed, at least for now, officials said later.

At a work session Aug. 19, the board rejected Parlato's offer to sell the town the acreage for $50,000. The informal vote was three Republicans against and two Democrats in favor of the purchase.
Parlato followed up with lobbying efforts, including getting on the agenda for Wednesday night's regular Town Board meeting to air his proposal before an audience of town residents.

Parlato told the board he wanted another vote, but was rebuffed.
Town Attorney William J. Casilio said no public hearing was in progress and that the question wasn't on the agenda for a vote. Parlato was on the agenda"to make a statement and you made it," Casilio told the developer.

Republican Councilman and Deputy Supervisor Daniel A. Herberger, filling in for ailing GOP Supervisor Irving W. "Skip" Grenzebach Jr., said the board wasn't going to be drawn into a debate. The board made an informal decision Aug. 19 and no member has indicated a change of heart since, Herberger told
Parlato.

Parlato quoted from a report by the Clarence Conservation Advisory Council, which said the land being offered by Parlato "sounds like a rare opportunity for the town. It is our considered opinion that it is a fine piece of property for a passive park and has a future for a more active one."

Board members opposed to the purchase have given many reasons, most of them involving cost, the poor economic climate and the town's abundance of parkland.

But officials speaking privately Wednesday night gave another reason -- the park security problems that might be posed by the patrons of a tavern in Rapids, directly across the creek in Niagara County. "Some people up there think the bikers would just come across the bridge and take it (the park) over," one official said.
Former town councilman Roland L. Boller said the town has "a golden opportunity" to develop a creekside park to the east near the county's Beeman Park area and in conjunction with a long-proposed Tonawanda Creek flood control project.

In other business Wednesday night, the Town Board joined other communities in adopting a local law banning picketing in residential neighborhoods.

No one spoke against the new law and three residents spoke in favor, including a man who said his home has been picketed in connection with a union dispute since July. Picketing a person's house unfairly victimizes wives, children and neighbors, speakers said.

The board also voted to offer town employees a state-authorized retirement incentive program, with a "window" of eligibility from July 24 to Oct. 23. The board failed to offer the program a year ago, but this year's version "is more financially feasible for municipalities," Herberger said.

The program offers one month of extra retirement credit for each year of work, up to a maximum of three years.

At best, the town will save about $100,000 over a five-year period,
depending on how many workers retire, said Councilman John F. Love and Daniel Tirone, town accountant. At worst, the town will break even, they said.

The board also:
Approved installation of one 10-foot-high decorative street light at Autumn Trail and Westerwald Lane in an area where residents are at odds over whether they want street lights. A petition shows homeowners at and near the intersection want the light, but feelings are mixed at two other proposed locations, said Councilwoman Anne L. Case.

Approved the final payment for the new Parks Department building in Clarence Town Park, bringing the total cost to $152,051, or about $1,900 less than the original authorization.

Announced the Clarence Highway Department's annual fall brush pickup will begin Sept. 28.

Referred to the Planning Board plans by the Bank of Akron to build a brick federal-style branch office at the northeast corner of Goodrich and Clarence Center roads in Clarence Center.

Also sent to the Planning Board a request by Kevin Curry to rezone 4332 Roxbury Drive for construction of two two-family dwellings and plans for an addition to Drydock Marine at 7171 Transit Road.
Approved an addition and the remodeling of the former Vogel's Colony Inn at 10005 Main St. for office use and gave Lynn Czekaj a permit for a craft and gift shop in a home at 10563 Main.
Approved a stop sign at the southwest corner of Pineledge Drive South and Winding Lane and an access drive off Barton Road for deliveries to Village Cabinet Center at 9125 Main.