The president of the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District board said Wednesday that the board will conduct a hearing next week to allow fire chief Bradley George the chance “to defend himself” against allegations that have been made against him.

But Dan Mathews said he could not elaborate on the allegations. He said that while the 2 p.m. Tuesday hearing is technically open to the public, George has the right to request an executive session to conduct the hearing, and the board would vote whether to agree to a closed session.

The hearing will be held at the fire station meeting room in Greenfield.

Mathews said that both “internal and external investigations” have been conducted. Mathews said that out of a plethora of charges originally made against George, “they’ve all been dismissed but a couple.” But he added, “I can’t say anything more.”

Reached Wednesday, George declined to discuss the matter on the record. He is being represented by Robert Judkins, who is the Madison Township county court judge.

George was placed on administrative leave in early July, as first reported by The Times-Gazette on July 9. He has been chief of the Paint Creek district since its formation five years ago.

George had served 18 years with the Greenfield Fire Department before leaving in October of 2007 to work for the state fire marshal’s office. When voters approved the formation of the fire district in 2009, he returned home to serve as Paint Creek’s chief beginning January 2010.

Since then, Paint Creek has expanded to become the dominant fire department in Highland County, and one of the largest fire districts in Ohio.

Reach Gary Abernathy at 937-393-3456 or on Twitter @abernathygary.