Settlements in works for 2 fired Bronson administration employees

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Anchorage Assembly Chair Christopher Constant confirmed in an email to Alaska’s News Source on Wednesday that the Assembly plans to review proposed settlements with former municipal employees Amy Demboski and Heather MacAlpine, both of whom were fired by Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration.

The Assembly will meet to discuss appropriating the money on May 5 in an executive session, according to Constant.

Constant said the mayor’s office will be asked to provide details of the proposed settlements totaling $827,500. It is not clear how the money might be allocated between the two.

In February, former director of the city’s Office of Equal Opportunity Heather MacAlpine filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing that her firing in May of 2022 was in retaliation for investigating potential improper acts by his administration.

Her lawsuit says her investigations included looking into the actions and policies of municipal Library Director Judy Eledge.

Meanwhile, former municipal manager Amy Demboski claims she was fired last December in retaliation for threatening to expose illegal acts committed by the mayor.

Those included issuing inappropriate sole-source contracts, doing improper favors for friends, and creating a “toxic work environment.”

Demboski’s attorney Scott Kendall declined to comment when asked Wednesday by Alaska’s News Source.

MacAlpine’s attorney Eva Gardner has not responded to request for comment. The mayor’s office has also not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

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