EAST LANSING — An independent investigation into City Manager Robert Belleman’s professional conduct because of his employee’s claims of sexual harassment and bullying detailed loud voices and a direct, occasionally uncomfortable style but nothing to entirely support Erica Dziedzic-Hernandez’s allegations.
“The investigation did not substantiate any violations of City policy or law,” investigators with the Miller Canfield law firm said in the November report released by the city on May 22. “There is insufficient evidence to support a finding of harassment or discrimination based on any legally protected characteristic or status.
“Even if some conduct described could be perceived as sex- or gender-based, it does not, in our view, meet the threshold of being severe or pervasive, nor has Dziedzic described a hostile work environment or identified any materially adverse employment action.”
The city released the report because of Dziedzic-Hernandez’s claims during the public comment portion of the May 19 council session, when she detailed behavior she considered harassing. She continues to work for the city and report to Belleman.
In the report, Belleman, who has repeatedly declined to address his grant coordinator’s public statements, “expressly and repeatedly denied the reported conduct.”
“He denied ever yelling, as he does not yell or scream,” the report said. “Belleman also denied ever making a sexually suggestive statement or joke of any kind and denied making any jokes or statements about Dziedzic.”
Investigators still recommended means of improvement considering “multiple interviewees reported that Belleman ‘has favorites,’ ‘dresses people down,’ and is stern or scolding — particularly toward women.’ ” They also noted a culture concern and lack of trust and comfort within his leadership team. Belleman is now participating in the executive leadership training investigators suggested.
Belleman was hired by an entirely different city council in August 2023, months after he was fired as Saginaw County’s controller. In recent months, community members have been calling for his resignation, claiming he is a liability to the community.
Council’s decision to release the report during a special May 21 meeting led to audience members booing, cursing and saying councilmembers should be ashamed, while Mayor Erik Altmann said it was a matter of fairness.
However, “Mayor Altmann’s comments (on May 21) do not reflect that of the entire East Lansing city council,” Councilwoman Kerry Ebersole Singh texted on May 22. “I do not characterize Ms. Dziedzic-Hernandez’s allegations as ‘unfounded’ and that word does not represent my position.”
She said what the independent investigation concluded was that Dziedzic-Hernandez’s complaints did not rise to the level of a legal or policy violation and that council asked Belleman to work with an executive leadership trainer “not as a token gesture, but as a meaningful step toward accountability and a healthier workplace culture.”
“To any city employee who has experienced a difficult or hostile work environment, there is a formal process through the City of East Lansing Human Resources — please know that I am paying close attention. Coming forward takes courage and you deserve to be heard,” Ebersole Singh said in the text.
The special May 21 meeting happened hours after a longtime city employee who no longer works for the city corroborated grant coordinator Dziedzic-Hernandez’s claims against Belleman to the State Journal.
Marie Wicks, who was employed by the city for about 15 years including several as clerk, supported Dziedzic-Hernandez on May 21, saying that Belleman could mistreat people and be accusatory and paranoid.
Dziedzic-Hernandez could not be reached for comment. On May 19, she told council members that Belleman sexually harassed her and that the apparently friendly, thoughtful man council members saw in meetings was different behind closed doors.
She said he was verbally abusive and had also threatened her job.
Miller Canfield’s report is available online at www.cityofeastlansing.com/HarassmentComplaintReport2026.
Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Report: Evidence against EL city manager isn’t a clear harassment violation
Reporting by Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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