An independent investigation has cleared Lewes Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba of allegations made in a complaint filed by City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe and Deputy City Manager Janet Reeves in May.

Mayor and city council discussed the complaint in a closed-door executive session Sept. 14, before reading a public statement.

"The council respects the fact that personnel issues are confidential and regrets that this has become public," said Councilwoman Trina Brown-Hicks, who read the statement on behalf of her colleagues. "In light of the evidence made available during the investigation, including documents provided by witnesses and interviewees, it is apparent from the investigation that working relationships between Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba, City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe and Deputy City Manager Janet Reeves are deeply damaged. However, there is no evidence that any of Deputy Mayor Saliba's conduct toward Miss Reeves or Miss McCabe is motivated by sex or age. Similarly, the investigation did not establish any intent by Mr. Saliba to threaten or cause physical harm to either Miss Reeves or Miss McCabe."

The statement went on to say that while certain of the complainants' allegations might violate the city's anti-bullying policy, none of the allegations establish the requisite elements of unlawful harassment.

The statement included two motions.

The first directs Saliba, McCabe, Reeves and all members of city council to take part in management and leadership training focused, in part, on rebuilding the relationships among the participants.

The second motion tasks Shelby Shockley, the city's human resources manager, with identifying a program that addresses those objectives.

Council unanimously approved both motions.

"We're way beyond management training," Saliba after the meeting. "The relationship has been strained for a long time. I've tried for two years to find a path forward with them, and every idea has been rejected."

Saliba said he will ask the city to pay his legal bills, and he will discuss with council McCabe's and Reeves' future with the city.

The panel is expected to talk about the topic during an executive session Friday, Sept. 18.

Mayor Amy Marasco said she thinks the management training will significantly ease what she called tension in city hall.

Councilperson Tim Ritzert said all of council has a job to do.

"Our statement acknowledges that, yes, those three individuals have something to work on, but we are all part of trying to make it better," Ritzert said.

The investigation was conducted by an attorney from the law firm Potter, Anderson & Corroon of Wilmington.

As of Aug. 7, an invoice shows a single cost of $15,708 for the deputy mayor investigation.

Marasco said she does not expect the total to be significantly higher, even though the firm continued work past that date.

She said the attorney's report will not be made public because it is a personnel matter.

Saliba said he and the rest of council only received a summary of the report. He said he is fine with the full report being made public.

Neither McCabe nor Reeves commented on council's statement or any part of the investigation.

McCabe and Reeves made their allegations public in a press release May 20. They called for Saliba to resign.

The complaint accused the deputy mayor of a "prolonged pattern of hostile conduct, intimidation, public humiliation and discriminatory behavior dating back to the summer of 2025."

Saliba denied all of the allegations.

"My reputation has been smeared by Ellen Lorraine and Janet," Saliba said. "My family has had to read these stories. I've had to manage relationships on other boards and committees on which I serve. The allegations are believed as truth, and I was unable to respond for four months. Now, we have to have serious conversations about whether this leadership team is right for Lewes."