East Lansing City Manager Accused of Sexual Harassment

East Lansing Grants Coordinator Erica Dziedzic-Hernandez accused City Manager Robert Belleman of sexual harassment during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. 

The first speaker during public comment, she said Belleman both sexually and verbally harassed her in 2025.

“His nickname for me was ‘Too Easy,’” Dziedzic-Hernandez said. “The first time he said it to me, I had no idea what he meant. As a defense mechanism, I quickly turned it into a harmless joke. He would frequently say to me, ‘You are too easy,’ and laugh.”

She said she felt Belleman was insulting her intelligence or sexuality.

Dziedzic-Hernandez said another employee witnessed Belleman using the nickname and once pulled her aside to say she did not like how she was being treated.

Dziedzic-Hernandez recounted one time when she and Belleman were leaving City Hall together. While walking down the stairs, he made a comment about her walking slowly. She responded that her knees were bad.

“Robert responded by muttering ‘too easy’ under his breath,” she said. “I felt disgusted and embarrassed. I immediately pretended like the incident never happened.”

On another occasion, she alleged Belleman threatened her job by asking rapid-fire questions and acting frustrated. She said it left her feeling stupid and that he acted like he was in control.

Dziedzic-Hernandez said he openly questioned why he was paying two grant writers, saying the city’s budget deficit would be eased if he were not.

He angrily said, “Why do I now have two grant writers? How much do you and an unnamed coworker make combined in one year? $150,000? That would ease the city’s budget deficit if I didn’t have to pay for two grant writers.”

“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.”

Dziedzic-Hernandez said she reported the incidents through “proper channels” and that an investigation was opened. She said she does not believe Belleman was ever held accountable. However, she said, the sexual harassment and verbal abuse stopped.

“I am deeply concerned that he could repeat his behavior,” she said. “Publicly, the city manager can appear friendly and thoughtful. However, he is a different person behind closed doors. Every day, I never know which Robert I will encounter, and it is stressful to consistently work in this environment.”

Belleman was chosen to serve as East Lansing’s top employee in August of 2023, just months after he was fired as Saginaw County controller following accusations that he created a toxic workplace. 

Belleman did not address the accusation or make any comments during his communications time at the meeting. He declined a request to comment from East Lansing Info after the meeting.

This story was updated to reflect that Belleman declined to comment following the meeting.

This story initially incorrectly stated which employee witnessed an incident.