JEROME TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Jerome Township trustees are hearing evidence on whether Fire Chief Douglas Steward should remain in his job, following an investigation that found two of four allegations against him were substantiated. Steward has been on leave since May. The township hired a private investigator to examine allegations concerning workplace conduct and political activity, and trustees and attorneys questioned witnesses during a hearing Tuesday, Oct. 6. One substantiated allegation concerns Steward’s endorsement of a candidate for state representative. Steward said he acted as a private resident, but appeared in campaign advertisements wearing his fire department uniform. Township policy bars employees from using uniforms or township resources for political activity. Candidate Wezlynn Davis told trustees that the endorsement was made in Steward’s personal capacity. Asked whether that was her understanding, Davis said it was. The other substantiated allegation involved a meeting with the township administrator about the investigation and a separation agreement. The investigator found that Steward used profanity. The administrator said Steward threw the agreement across the table; Steward said he pushed it back. Asked how the proposed agreement made him feel, Steward said he was “overwhelmed, betrayed, and just hurt and upset.” Township rules prohibit profane or abusive language toward supervisors. The hearing is scheduled to resume Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 5:15 p.m. Trustees will decide whether Steward keeps his position after the proceedings conclude. The hearing and the township’s decision concern the conduct allegations; the findings described so far do not address all four allegations in detail.