John Newman Appointed as Acting City Manager

Interim Fire Chief John Newman will serve as East Lansing’s acting city manager after City Manager Robert Belleman was put on paid administrative leave, the city’s Communications Director Carrie Sampson told East Lansing Info.

With Belleman’s administrative leave beginning at noon on Wednesday, he has appointed Newman to serve as acting city manager. Newman has worked as interim fire chief since April of 2025, and within the East Lansing Fire Department for about 25 years.

The City Council voted to put Belleman on paid administrative leave a week after East Lansing Grants Coordinator Erica Dziedzic-Hernandez accused him of sexual harassment and verbal abuse during the public comment portion of the May 19 City Council meeting.

On May 21, the City Council held a special meeting where it voted to release the investigation into Dziedzic-Hernandez’s complaint, which was completed last November.

The law firm hired to complete the investigation, Miller Canfield, did not find evidence to support Dziedzic-Hernandez’s claims of bullying and sexual harassment. However, interviews with Dziedzic-Hernandez, Belleman and six other employees did indicate there are problems with the city’s workplace culture, that Belleman can be especially stern towards women and that it is perceived that Belleman has favorites within the city staff.

Belleman will remain on leave while officials consult with Thrun Law Firm to receive answers to “initial questions” raised by the council during a closed door meeting with city attorneys Tuesday night.