East Lansing to Release Investigation into City Manager
East Lansing will release a report detailing an investigation into sexual harassment and bullying accusations levied at City Manager Robert Belleman.
East Lansing Grants Coordinator Erica Dziedzic-Hernandez spoke during public comment of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, accusing Belleman of sexual harassment and other abusive behavior.
At a special meeting held Thursday, council emerged from a nearly 90-minute closed door meeting with attorneys and voted to make the investigation into Belleman public. The city plans to release the report Friday, Mayor Erik Altmann told East Lansing Info.
During the meeting, Altmann said the complaint, filed in September 2025, was investigated by the Miller Canfield law firm, which found the allegations to be unfounded but recommended that Belleman receive leadership training.
“Everybody deserves process. Everybody has rights,” Altmann said. “That applies to complainants and it applies to respondents, and it’s a relief for me to finally be able to make this statement to the public, that these claims were unfounded.
“I look forward to continuing to work with City Manager Belleman in his position and I offer my support to him,” Altmann said.
Altmann’s statement was followed by boos and calls of “shame” from the audience.
Councilmember Kerry Ebersole Singh and Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Grigsby each encouraged city employees to come forward if they have experienced abusive behavior.
“As a person who has worked with many, many victims of different things, I just know how difficult it is to come forward, I know how difficult it is to put yourself in a situation where there’s a possibility for revictimization,” Grigsby said. “But if you are experiencing or have experienced any of the issues that we’re talking about tonight, please come forward.”
Grigsby’s comments were met with shouts from the audience and calls to fire Belleman.
During public comment of Thursday’s meeting, 10 people spoke with most calling for the council to fire Belleman.
“Nobody should have to come to work and worry about what sort of mood or behavior to expect from their boss,” said Karen Hoene, who volunteers on the city’s Human Rights Commission.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Dziedzic-Hernandez said Belleman nicknamed her “Too easy.” She recalled one incident where 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,” Dziedzic-Hernandez said at Tuesday’s meeting. “I felt disgusted and embarrassed. I immediately pretended like the incident never happened.”
Dziedzic-Hernandez said on one occasion Belleman threatened her job and described abusive behavior.
“Robert tried to intimidate me to follow his direction,” she said Tuesday. “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.”
Dziedzich-Hernandez said Tuesday that since she filed the complaint, the sexual harassment and verbal abuse have stopped. However, she is worried Belleman could repeat his behavior.
In an interview with WLNS on Wednesday, former City Clerk Marie Wicks said the way Belleman treats people is “awful.”
Belleman was fired from his role as Saginaw County controller in June of 2023 amid accusations he created a toxic work environment. He was hired as East Lansing city manager in August of the same year.
Editor’s note: Marie Wicks serves on ELi’s board of directors. ELi did not interview Wicks for this report, but is citing reporting from WLNS.