The Kenai Peninsula Borough has agreed to pay a former borough executive assistant $237,500 in a settlement reached over a sexual harassment lawsuit levied against former Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce and the Borough at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled Borough Assembly meeting.
In an executive session held early on Tuesday, the Borough Assembly, the Mayor, Borough Clerk and Borough Attorney approved a joint statement draft, to be voted upon at the Assembly meeting.
The Borough Assembly and Mayor Peter Micciche in a joint statement read at the April 18th, 2023 meeting outlined the settlement in the sexual harassment lawsuit against former Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce.
On October 21, 2022, a complaint for employment discrimination was filed by Pamela Wastell naming the Kenai Peninsula Borough and Charlie Pierce as defendants.
Assembly President Brent Johnson outlines the statement;
“The complaint alleged that Ms. (Pam) Wastell was sexually harassed by Mr. Pierce in the workplace and that the employer or borough should be liable for the conduct of its mayor. Attorneys for the parties have negotiated an out-of-court resolution to this matter. All parties have agreed to settle all sides of this matter for a settlement amount of $237,500 that will be paid to the plaintiff. Under the proposed settlement, Charlie Pierce will pay $31,250 and the borough will pay $206,250. Under the terms of the settlement, the Borough is not admitting any wrongdoing.”
To read the joint statement click here.
Johnson explained the position of the borough in-regards-to the settlement;
“The decision to settle this matter without further litigation was given considerable thought and time by the Assembly and Mayor Micciche. Prolonged litigation will result in the expenditure of more public funds and not serve to bring finality to a trying and difficult time. But, we also recognize that years of litigation on this matter is not in the best interest of the Borough or the taxpayers.”
Borough Mayor Peter Micciche discussed the Borough’s newly-revised Sexual Harassment, Bullying, and Discrimination Prevention Policy;
“Violations of this policy will not be tolerated. All employees will work in an environment free from sexual harassment, bullying or other harassment, unlawful discrimination and retaliation. We define what those mean in accordance with centrally federal law, sexual harassment, bullying, and other harassment, unlawful discrimination. retaliation, reporting An incident. We created a new reporting panel.”
To read the revised Sexual Harassment, Bullying, and Discrimination Prevention Policy click here.