East Lansing City Council Holding Surprise Meeting Tomorrow

Unexpectedly, the East Lansing City Council has added a meeting to its calendar that will take place Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Hannah Community Center.

A meeting agenda shows that the council will meet with the city’s attorneys in a closed-session about an undisclosed topic. The public will have a chance to comment before the City Council exits to closed-session.

While it is unclear what the City Council will discuss during the closed-session or potential action that could be taken at the meeting, the session was added as city leaders are embroiled in a pair of large controversies.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the city’s Grants Coordinator Erica Dziedzic-Hernandez accused City Manager Robert Belleman of sexual harassment and other abusive behavior.

During public comment, Dziedzic-Hernandez said Belleman gave her an inappropriate nickname, tried to intimidate her and threatened her job. She said she reported Belleman’s behavior and an investigation was opened, but she does not believe he faced repercussions.

“Robert tried to intimidate me to follow his direction,” she said. “He gave me instructions, and I asked him questions, which led to a discussion. As he walked away from me, he mumbled something and laughed. I asked him what he said. He looked at me and smirked. He walked toward me, leaned in very close, and whispered, ‘I trump everybody.’ He laughed out loud as he left my office.”

Belleman declined a request to comment after the meeting.

Tuesday’s City Council meeting also featured nearly two hours of public comment about the April 15 police shooting of Isaiah Kirby after footage of the incident was released last week.

Many speakers at Tuesday’s meeting said the shooting was excessive force because two waves of shots came while Kirby was on the ground. The officers involved are currently being investigated by the Michigan State Police, a process that can take more than a year.