Anchorage Assembly discusses settlement for 2 fired Bronson employees

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) ― The Anchorage Assembly spent nearly 2 hours in executive session Friday, hearing details about proposed settlements with former municipal employees Amy Demboski and Heather MacAlpine, both of whom were fired by Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration.

While Assembly members learned how the proposed $827,500 would be divided between the two, it will be some time before the public learns. Assembly Chairman Chris Constant says details won’t be released until the settlement is final.

The Assembly did schedule a public hearing on the matter at the Assembly meeting on May 23. But Constant says details of the settlement will not be revealed then and the hearing is designed to let the public speak about the broader issues involved.

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 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 earlier 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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