East Lansing City Council Votes to Keep City Manager on Leave

East Lansing City Manager Robert Belleman will remain on paid administrative leave, as the city proceeds with an investigation. 

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the council passed a vague motion after a roughly 80-minute long closed door meeting with attorneys. The motion, which passed unanimously, was to keep Belleman on leave while an investigation proceeds and to authorize the mayor and the city attorneys “to proceed in the manner discussed” in closed-session.

It is unclear what the scope of the current investigation is.

The City Council voted to place Belleman on leave on May 26, a week after East Lansing Grants Coordinator Erica Dziedzic-Hernandez accused him of sexual harassment and other abusive behavior during a City Council meeting. She said Belleman nicknamed her “too easy” and threatened her job, among other allegations. 

Two days later, the City Council held a special meeting where it voted to release the investigation into Dziedzic-Hernandez’s complaint. The investigation shows the complaint was filed in September of 2025 and the investigation was concluded in November. 

The law firm hired to complete the investigation, Miller Canfield, did not find evidence to support Dziedzic-Hernandez’s claims of sexual harassment and bullying. The firm did outline interviews with other city employees where they told investigators that Belleman talks down to female employees and is perceived to choose favorites. 

When the council voted to suspend Belleman on May 26, it also voted to contract with Thrun Law Firm to answer “initial questions” raised by the council in a closed-session. 

While Belleman is on leave, Interim Fire Chief John Newman is serving as acting city manager.