Facing two accusations of wrongful termination, Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson added nearly $1 million for legal settlements in budget revisions. So far, the Assembly has blocked his request.
Bronson updated the first quarter municipal budget to propose $827,500 be set aside for legal settlements. In response, Assembly members passed a budget amendment Tuesday night stipulating they could not pay any settlements to former Municipal Manager Amy Demboski, former Director of Equal Opportunity, Heather MacAlpine, or Roger Hickel Contracting, without Assembly approval.
Demboski and MacAlpine were both fired. MacAlpine has since sued the administration, while Demboski’s attorney sent a letter to the mayor alleging wrongful termination and rampant corruption by the mayor and his administration.
In response to Assembly questions, Bronson verified the money was not intended to be used in settlements with anyone other than MacAlpine, Demboski or Hickel, but didn’t discuss any specifics. The amount would not be enough to cover Hickel’s claim. The Assembly approved his request to discuss the matters in executive session, scheduled for May 5. Executive session is a closed-door meeting where elected officials discuss things like personnel issues and purchasing property.
“I look forward to hearing what they have to say,” Assembly member Christopher Constant said after the meeting.
Bronson settled one wrongful firing case, paying $125,000 to former Chief Equity Officer Clifford Armstrong lll in 2022. Earlier this month, Bronson tried to settle with Hickel contracting for $2.5 million. Bronson greenlit construction the Assembly had not approved, leading to Hickel suing the municipality for payment.
Demboski sent a letter to Bronson in January alleging that Bronson and his administration repeatedly violated state and local laws and wrongfully terminated her when she confronted him over some of the violations in an email. The allegations include illegal contracting, attempting to influence the outcome of a criminal case, wrongful firing, knowingly approving work without Assembly approval, creating and tolerating a hostile workplace, and other unethical behavior.
MacAlpine filed a lawsuit against Bronson, former Human Resources Director Niki Tshibaka and several other municipal employees after Bronson fired her while she was investigating unlawful discrimination claims against Library Deputy Director Judy Eledge. The lawsuit states that “Ms. MacAlpine was terminated because Judy Eledge was socially and politically connected with Mayor David Bronson and other high-ranking personnel in his administration.”
After MacAlpine was fired, Tshibaka, who MacAlpine informed about the employee complaints against Eledge, and his teenage daughter attended a library meeting wearing “I’m with Judy” t-shirts.
Municipal Attorney Anne Helzer said that the administration wants approval on the funds to pay settlements by May 9.
