Altercation Doesn't Stop Commissioner From Being Reappointed

Because of a videotaped altercation with a member of the public, a city commissioner is not "suitable" to be reappointed, said City Councilman Derek Reeve at Tuesdays’ meeting.

Despite Reeve’s objections, Tom Ostensen was reappointed to the city’s Open Space, Trails and Equestrian Commission.

Local gadfly Clint Worthington, often sharply at odds with the City Council majority, told councilmen Tuesday that he recently had an “absolutely disgusting” encounter with Ostensen at the Northwest Open Space.

Worthington told Patch he had gone to the property because he had heard it was closed. He brought his camera and was photographing the “park closed” sign when he noticed Ostensen and City Councilman Sam Allevato in the distance.

Ostensen approached, Worthington said. He exchanged some obscenities and put his hand on Worthington twice, which Worthington took as shoving. That’s when Worthington took out his phone and started videotaping.

“Had I not been standing behind the pole fence, I truly believe Tom would have shoved me down to the ground or taken a swing,” Worthington told Patch.

However, other than saying he Ostensen’s behavior was “disgusting,” Worthington did not go into detail before the City Council.

Allevato told his fellow councilmembers that in his opinion, Ostensen was not pushing Worthington. However, he agreed the commissioner was not at his best that day.

“Tom did react, probably inappropriately,” Allevato said, adding that it was strange Worthington took their photo. “I guess that’s how Justin Bieber feels when he has paparazzi following him around.”

In approving the reappointment, Councilman Larry Kramer said the “tremendous things” Ostensen has done for the city far outweigh any bad.

“If he’s done a couple of things you don’t care for, he’s done thousand things I like,” Kramer said.