The separation agreement between East Lansing and former City Manager Robert Belleman stipulates that the city will pay Belleman more than $220,000 and provide a written reference affirming that his satisfactory performance warranted a contract extension.
The city and Belleman parted ways June 16, less than a month after East Lansing Grants Coordinator Erica Dziedzic-Hernandez accused him of sexual harassment and other abusive behavior during the May 19 City Council meeting. The council later released the complaint investigation report, which did not find evidence to support her claims of bullying and sexual harassment, but employee interviews did reveal issues within the city’s workplace like a lack of comfort among city leaders and a perception that Belleman picked favorites.
Documents obtained by ELi through Freedom of Information Act requests show that Dziedzic-Hernandez complained about Belleman again the day after her City Council remarks, alleging she was excluded by Belleman from a leadership meeting in retaliation for speaking out. In a memo, she wrote that Belleman’s assistant emailed staff stating only supervisors should attend the meeting, which Dziedzic-Hernandez said she routinely attended…