The Hall County Civil Service Board publicly voted 4-2 Wednesday to affirm the termination of an ex-Hall County Fire Department battalion chief. But after extensive testimony had been given last year in a nearly daylong hearing on David McGehee’s departure — which came on the heels of criminal charges — a public vote came only after Superior Court Judge Jason Deal ruled on Dec. 27, 2013, the board had violated the Georgia Open Records Act by conducting a secret vote May 23 that year. In transcripts from the meeting, Fire Chief David Kimbrell said the department hoped the Feb. 7, 2013, domestic violence incident, which led to several charges against McGehee, wouldn’t make the news.