Airport access still a downer for pols; East-west travel a bane of development.

Byline: Nick Kotsopoulos

COLUMN: CITY HALL NOTEBOOK

While talk of an access road to Worcester Regional Airport has been a dormant issue for some time, it is still like coming into contact with a third rail, politically, if the subject is merely brought up.

City Manager Michael V. O'Brien is well aware of that, and while he hasn't talked much about the need for an airport access road of late, he does say the city needs an improved east-west roadway connector to benefit the economy.

Speaking before the Worcester Economic Club last week, Mr. O'Brien pointed out the difficulties in getting from Tatnuck Square or Webster Square to the East Side of the city.

"This (airport access road) issue is certainly a lightning rod unto itself, but there is no question that we have to solve our east-west transportation dilemma for economic development purposes," Mr. O'Brien told the group.

The manager also said that one of the biggest issues that has to be looked at is Worcester's tax structure and the burden it places on businesses.

But that problem is pretty much out of Mr. O'Brien's hands because it is the City Council and not the city administration that sets the tax rates each year and establishes the city's tax policies.

For the past four years, the council has adopted the lowest possible residential tax rate, which translates into the highest possible tax rate for commercial-industrial property owners.

"I don't believe we will ever see a shift that brings us to a single tax rate, but I believe we will reach some fair and balanced medium," Mr. O'Brien said. "It's one of the biggest issues that has got to be looked at and addressed, but unfortunately there are no easy solutions."

By the way, Mr. O'Brien also made some history that night, becoming the first chief executive officer of the city government to address the Worcester Economic Club, which was founded in 1903.

Leonard Ciuffredo, a longtime member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, was recognized for his years of service on the board at what was his final meeting this week.

Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien stopped by at the start of the zoning board meeting to offer Mr. Ciuffredo his thanks.

"I want to offer words of appreciation to Lenny for his service to the city and the ZBA," Mr. O'Brien said. "It's a pretty thankless job. During his tenure, Lenny certainly had to take his share of tough votes, but they were votes that strengthen this city and its neighborhoods."

City Manager Michael V. O'Brien has made the following appointments to city boards and commissions:

Duaiye Gibli to the Historical Commission; Christopher Rodwill to the Worcester Memorial Auditorium Board of Trustees; Tara Leahy to the Mayor Thomas J. Early Scholarship Committee; and Richard Perry, William Wallace and Nicole Apostola to the Hope Cemetery Board of Commissioners.

Also, George Maple, Daniel McAuliffe and Reynaldo Rodriguez to the G.A.R. Memorial Hall Board of Trustees, and John Donahue Jr. and Samuel Macintire to the Worcester Redevelopment Authority.

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Title Annotation:	LOCAL NEWS
Publication:	Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, MA)
Date:	Mar 4, 2010
Words:	508
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Topics:	Airports